THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


GIFT  OF 


COMMODORE  BYRON  MCCANDLESS 


THE  AUTOBIOGRAPHY 

AND 

MEMORIALS  OF 
CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR: 

FOR 

FIFTY    YEARS    MARINER    AND   SHIPMASTER   FROM    THE 
PORT   OF    NEW   YORK. 

BY  EEV.  HENRY  T.  CHEEVER, 

AGTHOB  or 

"TUB  ISLAND  Wt>KLD  OF  THX  FAOF1C,"  AKD  "TBX  WHALE  AND  Rn 
CArTOBS." 


He  la  careful  in  obacrrlng  the  Lord's  day.  He  hath  a  watch  in  hi* 
heart,  though  no  bells  in  a  steeple  to  proclaim  that  day  by  ringing  to 
prayer*.  He  daily  sees  and  duly  considers  God's  wonders  in  the  deep. 
— Fci.i.XB'3  "  Good  Sea  Captain." 


NEW    YORK. 

HARPER  &  BROTHERS,  PUBLISHERS, 

88  CLIFF  STREET. 

1851. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  fifty-one,  by 

HARPER  &  BROTHERS, 

in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  Southern  District 
of  New  York. 


cr 


PREFACE. 


To  the  mass  of  general  readers,  and  to  earn- 
est minds  especially,  writings  in  the  shape  of 
self-memorial  and  autobiography  are  always  at- 
tractive. Whether  they  be  purely  religious, 
like  the  Confessions  of  Augustine,  or  the  Grace 
Abounding  of  the  Immortal  Dreamer,  or  the 
Experiences  of  Madame  Guyon  and  of  Cowper ; 
or  whether  they  be  semi-religious,  literary,  and 
economical,  like  the  Life  of  Franklin,  by  him- 
self, the  Confessions  of  Rousseau,  the  Autobiog- 
raphies of  Goethe  and  Leigh  Hunt,  or  the  Con- 
fidences of  Lamartine,  all  men  love  to  read 
them.  Personal  reminiscences,  perhaps  it  may 
be  added,  even  egotism,  we  are  generally  eager 
to  peruse  when  written,  although  we  detest  and 
can  not  bear  them  when  spoken. 

It  is  because  I  have  thought  there  is  some- 
thing here  of  universal  interest — because  I  have 
seemed  to  see  that,  in  the  workings  and  strug- 


873754 


IV  PREFACE. 

gles,  the  trials  and  triumphs  of  the  SAILOR  herein 
exhibited,  there  is  matter  for  thought  and  in- 
struction to  the  Man,  certainly  to  the  Christian 
every  where — it  is  for  this,  among  other  rea- 
sons, that  the  Editor  has  undertaken  the  task 
(not  an  easy  one)  of  correcting,  reducing,  fash- 
ioning, and  putting  them  in  order. 

The  labor  expended  in  this  process,  if  not 
always  the  same  in  kind,  has  been  little  less  in 
amount  than  that  of  creating  entire  a  similar 
book.  But  the  work  has  been  lightened  by  the 
hope  that  its  result  may  now  and  then  profita- 
bly occupy  a  captain's  lonely  hours  at  sea,  or  a 
sailor's  dog-watch  and  Sunday,  and  that  it  may 
minister  healthful  stimulus  and  nutrition  to  a 
circle  of  minds  on  the  shore  also,  earnestly 
longing  after  holiness. 

In  now  giving  this  work  to  the  world,  the 
Editor  remembers  the  charge  of  Carlyle :  Cast 
forth  thy  act — thy  word  into  the  ever-living  uni- 
verse :  it  is  a  seed-grain  that  can  not  die  ;  un- 
noticed to-day,  it  may  be  found  flourishing  as  a 
banyan  grove  after  a  thousand  years.  If  this 
book  shall  enter  as  aliment  or  as  vital  electrici- 


PREFACE.  V 

ty  into  but  one  upright  mind,  so  as  to  make  it 
more  resolved  and  holy,  and  its  action  more 
quick  and  powerful  for  good  on  other  minds,  a 
wave  of  benign  influence  will  have  been  started 
by  it,  humble  as  it  is,  that  shall  roll  through 
eternity. 

In  the  hope  that  this  volume  may  prove  a 
useful  gift  to  the  Merchant  Service  and  Marine 
of  England  and  America,  it  is  now  dedicated 
to  the  Seamen's  Friend  Societies  of  the  two 
great  COMMERCIAL  NATIONS,  whose  common  boast 
it  is 

"  That  Chatham's  language  is  their  mother  tongue." 

HENRY  T.  CHEEVER. 

New  York,  January,  1851. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

...  muuUCTORT   AND  GENERAL  VIEW   OF  CHARACTER. 

Birth,  Parentage,  and  early  Days — First  Acquaintance  with 
Life  on  the  Water — Narrow  Escape  from  Drowning — Con- 
sequences upon  Character — Mastering  the  Theory  of  Nav-« 
igation — Engage*  as  a  Coaster — Begins  a  Journal — Its  Value 
estimated — Elements  of  Character — Its  Worth  as  an  Exam- 
ple—Testimonials of  Friends — Points  worthy  of  imitation 
— Noble  Attitude  in  relation  to  the  Sabbath  at  Sea — Honor 
to  whom  Honor  is  due— Origin  and  Order  of  the  Book- 
Its  Ends  and  Uses— Invocation  and  Aspirations  in  behalf 
of  its  Readers — The  Mariner  and  Christ Page  13 

CHAPTER  II. 

EARLT    VOTAOKS,  SUFFERINGS,    ADVENTURES,    PERILS,   AND    ES- 
CAPES. 

The  first  Time  off  Soundings — Impressive  Reminiscence  of  a 
Voyage  to  the  Carolines — Hardships  and  Inhumanities  of  a 
Cruise  to  St.  Vincent's — Sickened  of  the  Sea,  and  entering 
upon  a  Clerkship  at  New  York — Again  a  melancholy  Wan- 
derer on  the  Main — Divers  Voyages  to  the  West  Indies — 
Fever  at  Port  au  Prince — Religion  in  Embryo— A  Mate  at 
Twenty-one— In  Perils  frequent,  in  Deaths  oft — Moral  Ef- 
fect thereof — A  Prayer  composed  in  Extremity — Feeling 
after  God,  if  haply  he  might  find  Him— Wrecked  on  the 
Island  of  Barbuda — Strange  Vicissitudes  of  Fortune — Way- 
marks  in  Religion — Doubling  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope — 
Navigation  in  the  Indian  Seas — Arrival  at  Macao  and  Wain- 
poa — The  Celestial  Empire — A  Night  and  a  Day  in  the 
Deep — Marvelous  Rescue — Vows  made  in  Pain — Life  at 
Canton — We  sail  for  New  York — We  Wood  and  Water  in 
the  Straits  of  Sunda — Traffic  with  the  Natives — Touch  at 
the  Cape — Are  overhauled  by  a  Privateer — Put  into  Gau- 
dalonpe — Arrival  at  New  York Page  2i 


Vlll  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  III. 

RELIGIOUS  CONVICTIONS,  PROVIDENCES,  TRIALS,  AND  TRIUMPHS. 

The  Seriousness  of  a  rational  Mind — Again  upon  the  Deep — 
Captured  by  Privateers — Dangerous  Illness — Its  Part  in  the 
Discipline  of  his  Soul — Various  Adventures  in  the  West  In- 
dies— Funeral  Ceremonies  of  the  Blacks  described — In 
Command  of  a  Ship  for  France — Married  in  his  twenty- 
eighth  Year — Hair-breadth  Escapes — Reading  Theology  at 
Sea — The  Steps  traced  by  a  Sailor's  Mind  in  its  Return  to 
God — A  Train  of  Disasters  on  Ship-board — Winter  Rigors 
of  the  Coast — Trial  of  the  Land — Recourse  again  to  Sea — 
Perils  in  an  armed  Merchant  Ship — Put  in  Command  of 
the  Penelope — Beginnings  of  the  Life  of  God  in  the  Soul 
of  Man Page  56 

CHAPTER  IV. 

RELIGIOUS    EXPERIENCE,    PROFESSION,    TEMPTATIONS,    AND    ES- 
CAPE. 

Opening  of  the  Nineteenth  Century — Personal  Records  and 
Discoveries — Vigilance  in  Self-examination — Entering  upon 
the  Christian  Warfare — Dialogue  between  the  Believer 
and  his  Soul — Trials  of  a  Voyage  with  Emigrants — Pas- 
sages to  Madeira — Sea  Life  suspended — Shore  Life  tried — 
The  Church  entered — Covenant  Vows  assumed — Peculiar 
Religious  Exercises — First  the  Blade,  then  the  Ear,  after 
that  the  full  Corn  in  the  Ear — Footsteps  traced  into  the 
Kingdom  of  Heaven — Instructive  Records — Hard  Conflicts 
— Turning  out  by  the  tempting  Stile  of  By-path  Meadow 
— Caught  hi  the  Grounds  of  Giant  Despair — Wanderings  in 
Darkness — Temptations  to  curse  God  and  die — Mental  An- 
guish laid  bare — A  Fugitive  from  Home  and  Happiness— 
How  at  length  restored — An  instructive  Process  of  Recov- 
ery— Hope  for  the  Sorrowing — Joy  for  the  Comfortless — 
God's  Way  and  God's  End — These  are  they  that  have 
come  out  of  Tribulation 70 

CHAPTER  V. 

NAVIGATING    FOR    ETERNITY.       LIGHTS    AND    SHADOWS    OF    THE 
CHRISTIAN    LIFE. 

Life  resumed  upon  the  Mountain  Wave — The  Steps  of  a 
good  Man  ordered  by  the  Lord — Successful  Voyages  to 
foreign  Parts — Increasing  Comfort  in  Religion — Divinity 


CONTENTS.  IX 

shaping  hi*  rough-hewn  End* — The  Experience  and  Use 
of  TriaL — Want  of  Society  at  Sea— How  supplied — Gale* 
of  the  Spirit — Pillar*  of  Gratitude — Memorial*  of  Grace — 
Participation  in  a  Revival  at  Newark — Joy  in  the  Lord — 
Fruit*  of  the  Spirit — Lore  for  Souls— Cloud*  departing — 
Sun  shining — Shadows  fleeing  away — Say  not  'ti*  all  a 
dreary  Way Page  100 

CHAPTER  TI. 

LABORS  WITH  HIMSELF  AND  LABORS  IN  BEHALF  or  THE  SAB- 
BATH FOR  SEAMEN. 

The  Morning  cometh  and  alco  the  Night — The  checkered 
Experience  of  the  Religious  Life— Storm  after  Calm — Self- 
examination  brings  to  his  Bearing* — A  Parallel  and  Con- 
trast instituted  and  traced — The  Christian  Mariner's  Night 
Side — Hand  of  Providence — Invested  with  the  Command 
of  Ship  Atla»— Voyage  to  Bristol — Religion*  Instruction  of 
his  Crew — Reflection*  concerning  a  Captain's  Duty  to  his 
Men — Promise  and  Performance— Principle  and  Practice 
— -Conscientiousness  and  Reward — A  Struggle  between 
Diffidence  and  Duty— A  successful  Experiment  worth  re- 
peating—Persevere*  in  Well-doing— Confer*  with  Minis- 
ters on  the  Hallowing  of  the  Sabbath  at  Sea — Encouraging 
Fruit* — Observed  Effect*  of  Worship  at  Sea— He  encoun- 
ter* an  awful  Tempest — The  Voice  of  Prayer  in  the  Storm — 
A  well-spent  Sabbath  at  Sea— The  Mistake  corrected  that 
Sailor*  can  not  be  governed  without  rough  Usage — Fact* 
in  Proof— Experiment  tried  of  daily  Evening  Worship— 
The  Habit  continued  in  successive  foreign  Voyage*— Pas- 
sage to  Lisbon  —  Divers  Dangers  passed— Views  of  the 
Heavenly  Canaan 119 

CHAPTER  TIL 

CHRISTIAN  LIFE  AND  DUTIES    AT  SEA  CONTINUED. 

Example  of  an  honorable  and  conscientious  Captain— Con- 
troversy with  hi*  Employer  respecting  sailing  from  Port 
on  the  Lord'*  Day — Noble  Resolution  taken — Voyage  to 
the  Tagu* — Sickness  on  the  Return — Healthful  Discipline 
—Spiritual  Improvement  thereof — Growth  in  Goodness— 
War  with  Great  Britain  forbid*  Commerce — Ashore  eigh- 
teen Months  —  Undertakes  School-teaching  —  Peace  re- 
stored, and  the  Command  of  the  Niagara  resumed— Voy- 
age to  Now  Orleans  and  F. ivt-roool— Social  Religion  at  Sea 


CONTENTS. 


— Providential  Deliverance  from  Shipwreck  in  Answer  to 
Prayer — Takes  in  Charge  the  Ship  Phocion — Another  Eu- 
ropean Voyage — Spiritual  Meditations  at  Sea — Views  of 
Sin,  and  Holiness,  and  God — Anxieties  for  the  Salvation 
of  Others — Heavenward  Aspirations Page  141 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

PECULIAR    RELIGIOUS    EXERCISES   AND    ORIGINAL    CORRESPOND- 
ENCE  WITH   REV.  THOMAS    SCOTT. 

The  Year  of  the  Great  Revival — Movement  of  Mind  on  the 
Sea — Anxieties  for  Souls — Affecting  Views  of  the  Condi- 
tion of  a  Sinner  under  Condemnation — Letters  to  his  Wife 
penned  at  Sea — Arguments  and  Persuasives  to  Piety — 
Reasons  for  seeking  in  earnest  an  Interest  in  Christ — Af- 
fectionate Plea  and  Expostulation — Claims  of  Religion*  to" 
instant  Regard  —  Danger  of  Procrastination  —  Benevolent 
Care  and  Sympathy  for  his  Passengers — The  truly  Relig- 
ious Ship-rtaster — Death  at  Sea — Voyage  to  and  from  Hull 
— Dissatisfaction  of  Passengers  at  not  making  Sail  on  the 
Lord's  Day — Conduct  and  Reasonings  of  Captain  Congar 
— Addresses  a  Letter  to  Dr.  Scott — Cases  of  Conscience 
stated — Experience  narrated — Opinion  solicited — Reply  of 
Thomas  Scott — Grounds  of  Argument  on  the  Subject — To 
be  decided  by  Analogy — Israel  not  a  sea-faring  People — 
Proper  Distinction  between  Works  of  Necessity  and  Works 
of  Mercy — The  Sabbath  made  for  Man,  not  Man  for  the 
Sabbath  —  Should  not  be  stiffly  unaccommodating  —  A 
right  Rule  to  give  up  our  own  Will  to  please  Others  for 
their  Good — Never  to  give  up  the  Lord's  Will — The  Di- 
vine endorsing  the  Captain 156 

CHAPTER  IX. 

DESPONDENCY  CONFESSED,  CORRECTED,  AND  CURED. 

Penitential  Acknowledgments  of  Sin,  and  Prayers  for  Pardon 
and  Holiness — Fears  of  Apostasy — Workings  of  the  Hu- 
man Soul  apprehended  by  the  Powers  of  the  World  to 
come — Events  and  Exercises  of  a  Voyage  to  Oporto  — 
Prayer  followed  by  Occasions  of  Thanksgiving — Indwell- 
ing Sin  deplored — The  Soul  fasting  and  mourning — Light 
breaking — The  sorrowing  Soul  comforted — Tokens  of  the 
Divine  Favor  renewed — The  Course  of  Recovery  traced — 
The  Pilgrim's  Progress  to  the  Land  of  Peace — Affecting 
Memorials  of  the  Wormwood  and  the  Gall  —  Cheering 


CONTENTS.  XI 


Views  of  the  Promises —  Repose  found  in  Christ — The 
Blessedness  of  Union  with  the  Divine  Will — Consolation  of 
Faith — Doubts  followed  by  Assurance— Calm  after  Storm 
— Rest  after  Toil — Peace  after  War — Aspirations  after  Ho- 
liness—A  Beulah  for  the  Soul  even  here Page  182 

CHAPTER  X. 

ABANDONMENT   OF    THE    SKA.       TRAVELS    AND    EXPERIENCE    III 
THE    SOUTHWEST. 

The  Steps  of  a  good  Man  ordered  by  the  Lord — Casting  the 
Burden  upon  God — Singular  Resolution — Following  the 
Thread  of  Providence— ransage  to  New  Orleans  and  Natch- 
ez— Propitious  Providences — -Manifestations  of  God's  Favor 
—Business  Arrangements  and  Success — Sorrows  and  Joys 
of  Solitude — He  quits  Natchez — Return/  to  his  Family — 
Raises  a  Pillar  of  Gratitude — Brought  low  by  Sickness — 
A  Summer  at  Newark — Seeks  the  South  in  the  Fall — Busi- 
ness Adventures  in  1823 — A  delicate  Subject  discussed — 
Union  of  Believers  with  Unbelievers — lu  disastrous  Re- 
sults stated  and  Dissuasive*  thereto  enforced — Evidence 
of  Growth  in  Grace — Considerations  upon  the  State  and 
Prospects  of  the  Ungodly — Horror  taking  hold  of  him  be- 
cause of  the  Wicked  that  keep  not  Goof's  Law — Reflec- 
tions and  Experience  during  a  Voyage  South  in  1824 — 
Reasonings  of  a  Man  of  the  World — How  confronted — 
The  Longings  of  the  panting  Soul  expressed 196 

CHAPTER  XI. 

BUSINESS,    BENEVOLENCE,    AND    MENTAL    EXERCISES    OH    SHORE 
CONTINUED. 

Travels  to  aud  fro  in  the  South — Providential  Deliverances 
— Benevolent  Anxieties  for  a  bosom  Friend — Close  of  the 
Ninth  Septenniad  of  Life — Removal  of  Residence  to  Sa- 
vannah— Temporary  Relapse  into  Despondency— How  re- 
stored— Refreshing  Tokens  of  Divine  Favor — Pantings  of 
the  Soul  after  Holiness — Abode  at  St.  Augustine  in  1831 — 
Life  and  Labors  there  for  seven  Years — Removal  to  Jack- 
sonville— Course  of  Business  and  Religion  there — Reflec- 
tions at  Threescore  and  Ten  —  The  Pilgrim  in  a  Green 
Old  Age — The  World  receding — Heaven  dawning  on  the 
Soul — The  Difference  between  the  Worldling,  the  Misan 
thrope,  and  the  rejoicing  Christian — Mount  Pisgah  climbed 
—Eternal  Glory  flooding  the  Soul 216 


Xll  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

LIFE,  LABORS,  AND   EXPERIENCE   AT   JACKSONVILLE. 

Sources  of  Information — Letters  to  Friends — Recapitulation 
of  Mercies — Views  of  Life  and  the  World — Looking  be- 
hind the  Cloud — Earth  renounced — Heaven  anticipated — 
Part  in  organizing  a  Church — Ordained  an  Elder — Notes 
of  Experience  in  1843 — Hopes  and  Desires  of  the  gracious 
Soul — Forecasting  the  Future — Elected  Mayor  of  Jackson- 
ville— Thoughts  on  the  Seventy-eighth  Anniversary  of  his 
Birth — Experience  of  Youth  and  Age  in  Contrast — Energy 
in  building  a  Session-house  in  1846 — Solicitations  of  Aid  in 
its  Behalf — Characteristic  Extracts  from  Letters  asking  Be- 
nevolence— Local  Improvements  in  Morals  and  Religion 
— Generosity  revealed — Becoming  Gratitude  expressed — 
The  Agent  and  the  Cause  acknowledged  and  glorified — 
The  Pilgrim  looking  back  over  Life — The  Pilgrim  waiting 
— The  Pilgrim  longing  for  his  Rest Page  228 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

CLOSING  TEARS,  DEATH,  AND   RETROSPECT  OF  CHARACTER. 

Instructive  Birth-day  Memorial  —  An  old  Man's  OSering — 
The  Log-book  of  Eighty  Years'  Navigation — A  Tribute  to 
the  Pilot — The  true  Grounds  of  Happiness  in  old  Age — 
The  Secret  learned  of  Holiness — The  Soul  losing  its  own 
Life  and  finding  the  Life  of  God — An  affecting  Reminis- 
cence of  Youth — The  Otium  cum  Dignitate  of  the  Chris- 
tian Mariner — How  to  be  Young  when  Old — The  Patri- 
arch's Views  of  passing  Events — The  Internal  Life  and  the 
External — The  Christian  Solace — A  New  Year's  Landing- 
place — The  wise  Review — The  calm  Outlook  upon  the 
Future — The  cheerful  Consecration — The  last  Birth-day — 
The  last  Entry — Valedictory  to  Earth — Salutatory  to  Eter- 
nity— Sickness  and  Death — Synopsis  of  Character — Virtues 
as  a  Man,  a  Merchant,  a  Captain,  and  a  Christian — A  Man's 
Way  declarative  of  his  End — The  Author's  Farewell  As- 
pirations and  Leave-taking 245 


MEMOIRS 

or 

CAPTAIN  CONGAR. 

CHAPTER    I. 

INTRODUCTORY    AMD    GENERAL    VIEWS    OP    CHAR- 
ACTER. 

I  COHI  not,  friends,  to  steal  away  your  hearts ; 
But,  as  you  know  me  all,  a  plain,  blunt  man. 
For  I  have  neither  wit,  nor  words,  nor  worth, 
Action,  nor  utterance,  nor  the  power  of  speech, 
To  stir  men's  blood ;  I  only  apeak  right  on ; 
I  tell  you  that  which  you  yourselves  do  know. 

SHAKSPEARE'S  Juliui  Ctetar. 

THE  subject  of  the  following  memoir  was  the 
fourth  of  seven  children  born  to  David  and 
Mary  Congar,  and  all  reared  to  adult  years. 
He  was  born  near  Newark,  New  Jersey,  on  the 
27th  of  June,  1768.  His  death  was  in  July, 
1848,  in  the  eighty-second  year  of  his  age.  His 
parentage,  though  poor,  was  virtuous,  industri- 
ous, temperate,  pious,  and  long-lived;  the  fa- 
ther dying  at  the  age  of  eighty-seven,  the  mother 
at  seventy-nine. 


14         CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

He  was  sent  to  school,  for  one  or  two  years, 
at  the  age  of  six,  just  before  the  commencement 
of  the  American  Revolution  ;  at  the  break- 
ing out  of  which,  his  father's  family  were  re- 
moved up  the  North  River,  to  the  village  of 
New  Windsor,  sixty  miles  from  the  city  of  New 
York,  in  the  year  1776.  Here  Obadiah  was 
taken  on  board  a  sloop  by  his  father,  who  had 
abandoned  the  business  of  shoe-making  in  order 
to  follow  that  of  a  coaster  and  trader  on  the 
Hudson.  By  this  means  the  son  early  acquired 
a  knowledge  of  nautical  life,  and  contracted  a 
fondness  for  the  water. 

About  the  year  1779,  however,  his  father  sold 
his  river  craft,  and  took  up  the  business  of  fer- 
ry-keeping, using  also  his  young  sailor-son  to 
go  with  him.  This  had  nearly  been  a  fatal 
business  for  them  both ;  for  it  happened,  on  a 
Sabbath  day,  that  they  had  occasion  to  take  on 
board  a  heavy-loaded  wagon  and  five  horses, 
and  having  gone  about  midchannel,  that  is,  half 
a  mile  from  the  shore,  the  wind  blowing  fresh 
from  the  southwest  and  ebb  tide,  which  caused 
considerable  swell,  the  horses  sallied  to  leeward, 
and  the  boat  immediately  filled  and  sunk,  all 
except  a  little  part  of  the  bow,  to  which  they 
all  providentially  clung,  and  remained  until  tak- 
en off.  Happily  for  them,  this  disaster  happened 


EABLT    PERIL    AND    RESCUE.  15 

just  as  the  church  doors  were  opened  for  the 
people  to  come  out,  and,  being  in  full  view,  as- 
sistance was  soon  rendered  them. 

This  narrow  escape  from  drowning,  which 
was  but  one  of  many  he  met  with  in  the  course 
of  life,  wrought  powerfully  upon  the  mind  of 
the  boy-mariner.  It  led  him,  beyond  what  was 
natural  to  his  years,  to  think  of  his  liability  to 
die,  and  of  the  necessity  of  being  always  ready. 
And  it  seems  to  have  given  birth  to  many  good 
resolutions,  and  to  have  laid  a  strong  arm  of  re- 
straint upon  youthful  follies,  making  him  se- 
rious-minded and  afraid  of  sin,  lest  God  should 
snatch  him  away  in  the  commission  of  it. 

When  about  fourteen  years  of  age,  his  father 
wisely  attempted  to  put  him  to  a  trade ;  but, 
finding  the  lad  not  to  take  readily  to  any  of  the 
mechanic  arts,  he  thought  proper  to  send  him 
to  school  for  the  purpose  of  learning  navigation, 
in  order  that  he  might  follow  the  sea  for  life. 
Soon  after  he  had  thus  acquired  the  theory  of 
navigation,  which  there  is  good  evidence  that 
he  mastered  well,  the  contest  ended  between 
the  United  States  and  Great  Britain,  and  he 
entered  a  vessel  as  a  common  hand  in  the  coast- 
ing business. 

Through  sundry  imprudences  and  prodigal- 
ity incident  to  his  age,  he  found  himself,  on  set- 


1C  CAPTAIN    OBADIAH    CONGAR. 

tling  with  his  first  employers,  and  proceeding 
to  the  city  of  New  York,  in  the  winter  of  1785, 
quite  out  of  pocket.  He  notes  this  as  a  provi- 
dential circumstance,  because,  probably,  his 
poverty  kept  him  out  of  harm's  way  during  his 
stay  in  the  city ;  and,  reflecting  upon  his  pre- 
vious sailor-like  improvidence,  he  wisely  re- 
solved to  husband  his  earnings  better  for  the 
future,  a  resolution  which,  if  carried  out  by 
young  sailors  generally  as  it  was  by  him,  would 
early  lay  the  foundation  of  an  independent  com- 
petence. 

It  was  at  this  period  of  his  life,  in  the  eight- 
eenth year  thereof,  and  with  a  serious  though 
not  yet  a  religious  mind,  that  the  personal  nar- 
rative or  journal  was  undertaken  from  which 
the  materials  of  this  book  are  derived.  It  was 
principally,  he  says,  that  he  might  retain  or 
call  to  mind  the  most  material  incidents  of  his 
life,  the  perusal  of  which  might  be  useful  and 
entertaining,  should  he  ever  arrive  at  old  age. 
It  is  written  in  a  legible,  fair  hand,  and  with 
generally  correct  orthography  ;  and  though  by 
no  means  remarkable  for  the  shrewdness  and 
originality  of  its  observations,  or  the  depth  of 
its  reflections,  or  the  animation  and  interest 
of  its  style,  or  the  lively  detail  of  stirring  facts, 
incidents,  and  adventures,  it  is,  on  the  whole, 


GROUND-WORK  OF  CHARACTER.        17 

highly  creditable  to  the  heart,  if  not  to  the  in- 
tellect of  the  writer ;  and  it  presents  an  exam- 
ple every  way  worthy  of  imitation  by  sea-faring 
men. 

The  character  it  gradually  develops  is  the 
rare  one  of  a  humble,  conscientious,  active,  and 
practical  Christian  mariner.  Without  being 
eminently  great  or  transcendent ly  good,  it  is 
such  a  character  as,  if  every  where  reproduced 
and  multiplied  on  ship  and  shore,  would  make 
society  happy,  and  earth  akin  to  heaven.  It  is 
a  character  the  ground-work  of  which  is  alto- 
gether natural  and  common,  being  neither  much 
above  nor  any  below  the  ordinary  level  of  hu- 
man abilities,  but  so  ribbed,  braced,  and  under- 
girded  by  strong  moral  principle  and  the  fear 
of  God,  that  it  was  far  more  than  ordinarily 
effective  for  good  in  its  day  and  generation. 
Thence  alone  it  is  worthy  of  study  and  imita- 
tion by  those  especially  whose  sphere  of  action 
and  duty  corresponds  to  that  pursued  by  the 
practical  Christian  mariner  herein  exemplified. 
There  are  few  that  attain  to  the  office  of  ship- 
master, like  Captain  Congar,  who  might  not 
become  as  respected,  influential,  and  useful  as 
he,  provided  only  they  had  his  religion,  which 
was  the  rudder  of  his  life. 

One  of  his  personal  friends  and  acquaintan- 
B 


18         CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

ces,  a  New  York  merchant,  who  first  knew 
him  as  long  ago  as  the  year  1808,  in  Newark, 
thus  testifies  to  Captain  Congar's  character, 
person,  and  worth  :  "I  observed  him  always  as 
a  serious-minded  man.  When  in  port,  he  was 
sure  to  be  seen  regularly  and  punctually  in  his 
seat  at  church  on  the  Sabbath,  and  also  at  so- 
cial evening  meetings ;  and  he  always  enjoyed 
the  respect  and  confidence  of  the  better  class  of 
society. 

"  He  was  a  man  of  a  middle  size,  rather  spare 
or  slender,  neat  and  particular  in  his  dress,  and 
this  he  retained  to  the  end  of  his  days.  He  had 
a  little  hesitancy  in  his  speech,  and  a  nervous 
habit  of  shutting  his  eyes  suddenly  and  often 
while  speaking.  Though  inclined  to  be  irrita- 
ble in  temper,  he  always  maintained  his  Chris- 
tian character,  and  was  at  peace  with  all  men. 

"  Captain  Congar  was  in  the  employ  of  some 
of  our  best  and  most  respectable  merchants, 
and  had  their  full  confidence  ;  and  though  their 
views  of  sending  out  ships  from  port  on  the  Sab- 
bath differed  from  the  captain's,  they  seemed  to 
yield  to  his  sense  of  Christian  duty.  Captain 
Congar  was  an  old-fashioned  Christian,  and  of 
the  Puritan  stamp ;  he  could  not  bear  deceit 
nor  equivocation,  was  scrupulous  as  to  his  en- 
gagements,  and  opposed  to  being  in  debt. 


TESTIMONY    OP    FRIENDS.  19 

"  My  particular  acquaintance  with  him  was 
after  his  removal  to  Florida,  to  which  place  he 
removed  on  account  of  climate,  and  with  refer- 
ence to  his  health.  He  established  himself  at 
St.  Augustine  in  mercantile  business  to  rather 
a  limited  extent,  had  capital  sufficient  to  pay 
for  a  stock  of  goods  suited  to  the  place,  to  own 
a  house  and  lot,  and  was  also  cultivating  a 
young  orange  grove,  which  bade  fair  to  yield  a 
considerable  income,  when  the  severe  frost  of 
(about)  1335  destroyed  it,  and  it  was  not  after- 
ward replenished  or  improved. 

"  Captain  Congar  was  too  candid  and  honest, 
and  too  cautious  to  gain  much  by  trade  in  those 
times  of  over-reaching  and  exaggeration.  He 
was  particular  to  purchase  only  good  articles, 
and  was  undeviating  in  prices.  The  common 
people,  the  Monorcans,  and  the  poor  slaves,  found 
the  benefit  of  trading  at  his  store ;  and  if  he 
recommended  his  goods,  they  could  believe  him, 
and  were  sure  not  to  be  deceived. 

"At  St.  Augustine  Captain  Congar  was  for- 
ward in  efforts  to  erect  a  place  of  worship  and 
support  a  church,  and  to  promote  good  morals, 
always  bore  his  part  liberally  in  the  support  of 
the  Gospel,  was  regular  and  systematic  in  his 
benevolence.  He  was  in  the  habit  of  remitting 
his  contributions  to  the  seamen's  cause,  to  the 


20         CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign 
Missions,  and  other  public  charities,  and  he 
adorned  his  profession  by  a  consistent  life. 

"  Captain  Congar  became  dissatisfied  with  St. 
Augustine,  and  at  the  advanced  age  of  seventy 
commenced  a  new  residence  at  Jacksonville,  in 
Florida,  in  1838.  Here  he  opened  a  store,  and 
for  several  years  did  a  small  amount  of  trade, 
but  gradually  withdrew  from  business  pursuits. 
He  was  chosen  Mayor  of  Jacksonville,  and  ex- 
erted a  strong  influence  for  the  sacredness  of 
the  Sabbath,  and  in  opposition  to  intemperance, 
profane  swearing,  gambling,  and  all  public  wick- 
edness. 

"He  began  at  once  to  propose  plans  for  a 
Church  organization  and  to  procure  a  church 
edifice,  and  though  he  did  not  succeed  in  per- 
manently establishing  a  Church  and  place  of 
worship  for  his  own  denomination,  he  yielded 
his  own  preference,  and  cordially  united  in  aid 
of  an  Evangelical  Methodist  Church,  which 
continues  to  be  respectably  attended,  and  is  reg- 
ularly supplied  with  preaching.  He  also  erect- 
ed, with  the  aid  of  a  few  friends,  a  house  for 
prayer,  on  the  same  lot  in  Jacksonville  with  his 
own  dwelling,  and  kept  up  evening  prayer  meet- 
ings by  his  personal  efforts  for  a  considerable 
time. 


A  CHRISTIAN  CAPTAIN'S  SABBATH.         21 

"  While  at  Jacksonville  in  the  winter  of 
1849, 1  learned  much  of  Captain  Congar's  cath- 
olic spirit,  and  his  efforts  to  keep  a  high  stand- 
ard of  Christian  example.  He  used  to  look  after 
members  who  were  delinquent  at  the  evening 
prayer  meetings,  and  his  influence  in  every  way 
was  corrective  and  salutary." 

Perhaps  the  noblest  attitude  in  which  the 
subject  of  these  memoirs  appears,  is  the  firm 
and  manly  stand  taken  by  him  in  respect  to  the 
observance  of  the  Sabbath  at  sea.  It  is  in  this 
pre-eminently  that  his  example  is  to  be  com- 
mended to  all  the  craft.  When  there  were 
none  of  his  fellow-captains  to  keep  him  in  coun- 
tenance, he  maintained  rigidly,  by  practice  and 
precept,  the  sanctity  of  the  Lord's  day,  so  that 
he  would  neither  sail  from  port,  nor  have  any 
other  than  the  absolutely  necessary  working  of 
the  ship  at  sea. 

This  he  conscientiously  held  to  for  the  whole 
of  his  sea  life,  after  embracing  Christianity, 
when  scarce  another  could  be  quoted  in  England 
or  America  who  was  with  him  ;  and  even  grave 
divines,  as  will  be  seen,  demurred  at  giving  the 
counsel  which  he  prescribed  to  himself,  and  for 
a  length  of  years  never  deviated  from.  Out  of 
forty-seven  voyages  performed  by  him  in  all, 
during  the  twenty-three  that  he  was  himself 


22  CAPTAIN    OBADIAH    CONGAR. 

captain,  he  had  the  Sabbath  carefully  observed 
to  the  best  of  his  ability  by  all  on  board.  For 
this  we  honor  him  ;  for  this,  if  for  nothing  else, 
his  life  were  worthy  to  be  written ;  for  this, 
while  the  name  of  the  wicked  shall  rot,  his  shall 
be  had  in  everlasting  remembrance.  Foras- 
much as  he  honored  the  Sabbath  when  by  oth- 
ers it  was  dishonored,  the  great  God  of  the 
Sabbath  shall  make  him  honorable  in  the  ever- 
lasting kingdom  of  our  Lord,  agreeably  to  that 
word  of  his,  Them  that  honor  me  I  will  honor, 
but  they  that  despise  me  shall  be  lightly  es- 
teemed. 

In  the  following  chapters  of  this  book  we 
shall  have  Captain  Congar  speak  as  much  as 
possible  for  himself,  without,  however,  present- 
ing his  journal  in  due  order  or  exactness,  but 
omitting  many  things  inconsequential  and  un- 
interesting, paraphrasing  others,  and  so  abridg- 
ing both  incidents  and  reflections,  and  condens- 
ing the  whole,  as  to  bring  the  volume  within 
the  compass  we  have  prescribed  for  it. 

Although  a  man  noted  for  uncommon  hu- 
mility, self-distrust,  and  freedom  from  egotism, 
Captain  Congar  surmised  and  hoped,  in  his  last 
days,  that  the  perusal  of  his  journal  might  be 
useful  to  others,  and  he  therefore  left  it  by  will 
as  a  legacy  to  the  Seamen's  Friend  Society, 


A    NEW    REVOLVING    LIGHT. 


with  instructions  to  have  a  book  prepared  out 
of  it,  and  three  thousand  copies  to  be  printed 
and  circulated  among  seamen  at  his  expense. 
The  present  volume  is  in  fulfillment  of  that 
trust. 

Tho  aim  of  the  editor  has  been  so  to  project 
his  own  mind  into  the  position  and  character 
of  the  subject  of  this  memoir,  as  from  that  stand- 
point to  trace  a  true  map  of  his  life  and  relig- 
ious experience.  May  it  prove  a  valuable  ad- 
dition to  the  Christian  literature  of  the  sea,  and 
in  due  time  find  its  way  to  forecastle  and  cabin, 
and  be  a  monitor  and  example  to  officers  and 
men,  of  modest  worth  and  principle,  and  of  the 
honor  that  accrues,  even  in  this  world,  to  real 
goodness  and  the  fear  of  God.  Should  it  ever, 
in  a  good  degree,  answer  this  end,  or  might  it 
serve  as  a  new  REVOLVING  LIGHT  to  the  mariner 
on  the  look-out  for  the  Port  of  Peace,  the  labors 
of  the  editor  will  have  been  well  bestowed.  On 
its  mission,  then,  he  sends  it  forth,  with  an 
earnest  prayer  to  God  for  every  mariner  that 
shall  ever  be  allured  to  its  perusal. 


DARK  is  the  watery  way 

Oflife'a  tempestuous  sea; 
And  none,  oh  Chrut,  are  safe,  but  they 

Who  put  their  trust  in  thee. 


24  CAPTAIN    OBADIAH    CONGAR. 

Loud  is  the  stormy  wind ; 

The  seamen  are  afraid ; 
But  those  shall  strength  and  mercy  find 

Whose  souls  on  Christ  are  stayed. 

The  winds  THEY  do  not  fear, 

Nor  dread  the  thunder's  noise ; 
The  Savior's  cheering  voice  THEY  hear, 

And  evermore  rejoice. 
It  is  our  Savior's  skill. 

Our  Savior's  arm  of  might, 
Which  guides  the  tossing  ship  at  will, 

And  puts  our  fears  to  flight. 

Praise  to  the  Pilot's  power, 
Praise  to  the  Pilot's  hand, 

That,  faithful  most  in  danger's  hour, 
Shall  brine  us  safe  to  land. 


EXPERIENCE    OFF   SOUNDINGS.  25 


CHAPTER    II. 

EARLY    VOYAGES,    SUFFERINGS,    ADVENTURES,    PER- 
ILS,   AND    ESCAPES. 

WK  have  been 

Bat  voyaging  along  the  barren  coasU, 
Like  some  poor,  ever-roaming  horde  of  pirate*, 
Who,  crowded  in  the  rank  and  narrow  ship, 
House  on  the  wild  sea  with  wild  usages, 
Nor  know  aught  of  the  main  land,  but  the  bays 
Where  safeties!  they  may  venture  a  thief*  landing. 

The  Piccolomini. 

THE  first  cruise  made  by  Captain  Congar 
off  soundings  was  from  New  York  to  North 
Carolina,  in  a  sloop,  in  the  year  1785.  Though 
but  a  seven  or  eight  days'  sail,  it  was  a  trading 
voyage,  and  occupied  six  months.  At  first,  in 
his  extreme  distress  by  sea-sickness,  he  made 
to  himself  the  sailor's  usual  promise,  that,  could 
he  once  more  get  on  land,  salt  water  should 
never  again  wet  his  feet.  But,  returning  with 
good  success,  and  greeted  joyfully  by  his  friends, 
a  few  days  on  land  sufficed  him,  and,  refusing 
the  owner's  offer  to  take  the  sloop  on  shares 
and  continue  in  the  river  business,  he  resolved 
to  pursue  his  fortune  on  the  sea. 

The  taste  he  had  had  of  its  dangers  and  dis- 


26  CAPTAIN    OBADIAH    CONGAR. 

comforts  did  not  appall  him,  although  he  records 
afterward  the  following  reminiscence  of  his  first 
voyage,  in  order  to  show  what  dreadful  appre- 
hensions fill  the  mind  when  guilt  stares  in  the 
face,  and  when  some  awful  judgment  seems  to 
threaten.  While  his  sloop  was  lying  at  the 
mouth  of  one  of  the  Carolina  rivers,  the  cap- 
tain had  occasion  to  take  all  the  crew  ashore 
with  him  but  young  Congar,  late  in  the  after- 
noon, and,  by  some  means,  they  were  detained 
all  night.  As  the  vessel  lay  about  half  a  mile 
from  land,  it  was  but  natural  that  the  raw  sail- 
or boy  left  in  charge  should  feel  lonesome  and 
uneasy.  But  his  fund  of  spirits  and  health 
helped  him,  and  he  endeavored  to  compose  his 
mind  to  sleep  at  the  usual  hour. 

About  midnight,  as  "he  deemed,  he  was  awak- 
ened by  the  great  rocking  of  the  vessel,  and  by 
loud  peals  of  thunder,  terrifying  to  him  at  any 
time,  but  now,  in  his  loneliness,  distressing  be- 
yond measure  :  "  The  vivid  lightnings  flashed 
around  me  as  though  the  elements  were  all  on 
fire.  What  horror  seized  my  guilty  soul !  Now 
I  tried  to  pray  ;  now  I  read  the  Bible.  Now  I 
repented  of  my  sins,  and  resolved  to  mend  my 
ways.  I  thought  the  judgment  day  had  come, 
and  that  my  soul  must  perish.  In  this  dread- 
ful time  I  had,  nevertheless,  presence  of  mind 


HARDSHIPS    AND    INHUMANITIES.  27 

enough  to  go  on  deck  and  let  go  the  second  an- 
chor, and  try  the  pump.  After  this,  it  moder- 
ated a  little,  but  I  thought  the  night  would 
never  end.  Blessed  be  God,  who  carried  me 
through  that  dreadful  night,  and  gave  me  to  see 
the  light  and  space  to  repent !" 

Eager  again  for  the  sea,  and  all  its  terrors 
out  of  mind,  in  an  evil  hour  for  himself,  young 
Congar  enlisted  on  board  an  English  vessel 
bound  to  the  island  of  St.  Vincent's,  in  the  West 
Indies.  During  this  voyage  he  "suffered  al- 
most every  thing  but  death  itself,"  the  vessel 
being  ill  commanded  and  provisioned,  and  quite 
unfit  for  sea,  so  that  they  were  very  soon  put 
upon  a  short  allowance  of  bread  and  water ;  the 
captain,  withal,  being,  by  his  description,  "  an 
inhuman  tyrant,  who  knew  not  how  to  treat 
any  being  capable  of  feeling." 

After  the  lapse  of  forty -seven  wearisome  days 
of  hunger,  thirst,  and  hard  usage,  they  made 
port,  the  captain,  by  the  imperfect  navigation 
of  the  time,  having  fallen  so  far  to  leeward  as 
to  have  to  stand  to  the  northward  again,  in  or- 
der to  make  an  easting.  Such  was  the  inhu- 
manity of  the  captain,  that  the  men  were  put 
upon  allowance  again  only  eight  days  after  get- 
ting to  port,  and  so  remained  for  eight  or  ten 
weeks,  to  the  end  of  the  voyage. 


28  CAPTAIN    OBADIAH    CONGAR. 

The  whole  course  of  it  was  so  fraught  with 
hardship,  that  at  its  close  and  return  to  New 
York,  nothing  seemed  wanting  to  young  Con- 
gar  but  opportunity  to  engage  in  some  calling 
whereby  he  might  earn  an  honest  livelihood, 
and  be  delivered  from  the  toils  of  the  seas. 
This  was  offered  him  in  a  clerkship  at  Newark, 
in  a  merchant's  store.  But  finding  the  business 
dull  and  the  confinement  irksome,  and  his  suf- 
ferings at  sea  being  all  forgotten,  he  aban- 
doned it  at  the  expiration  of  eighteen  months 
for  a  home  again  on  the  mountain  wave,  a  life 
which  he  had  but  lately  detested  as  the  most 
uncomfortable  to  be  imagined. 

Reflecting  thereon  at  a  later  period,  he  re- 
marks, "  Would  any  one  seriously  reflect  how 
many  comforts  of  life  he  deprives  himself  of  by 
following  the  sea,  methinks  all  the  allurements 
to  such  a  business  would  vanish.  But  few, 
alas !  regard  what  ought  to  be  esteemed  the 
greatest  comfort — I  mean,  the  privilege  of  living 
under  a  preached  Gospel,  or  being  in  habits  of 
sociability  with  those  whose  examples  of  piety 
and  virtue  might  lead  to  a  consideration  of  the 
importance  of  preparing  for  our  latter  end — 
considerations  seemingly  too  much  neglected 
by  those  whose  occupation  is  on  the  great  wa- 
ters." 


VOYAGES    TO    THE    WEST    INDIES.  29 

His  clerkship  had  hardly  been  more  produc- 
tive than  trading  before  on  the  North  River,  so 
that  he  started  anew  for  sea  in  his  nineteenth 
year  without  even  the  means  of  procuring  an 
outfit.  Through  the  kindness  of  his  late  em- 
ployer, this,  however,  was  furnished  him,  and 
he  shipped  as  a  common  sailor  for  a  voyage  to 
Jamaica,  but  upon  such  hard  conditions,  and 
as  a  supernumerary  hand,  that  nothing  was 
due  him  at  the  winding  up  of  the  voyage. 

A  painful  melancholy  had  preyed  upon  him 
on  the  voyage,  which  was  rather  increased  by 
the  uncertainty  of  his  prospects,  and  the  diffi- 
culty of  finding  employment  that  suited  him  on 
his  return.  At  length,  however,  it  was  relieved 
through  the  services  of  a  friend  procuring  him 
a  situation  in  a  brig  to  Guadaloupe  on  seamen's 
wages.  This  was  a  prosperous  voyage,  with  an 
honest  captain,  that  did  much  to  reconcile  him 
to  the  rough  life  of  a  sailor.  But  on  his  return 
to  Newburyport  in  January,  and  a  voyage  aft- 
erward in  February  to  New  York  of  twenty- 
six  days,  he  suffered  all  the  rigors  of  an  ice- 
bound coast. 

We  find  him  next  embarked  for  Ireland,  and 
returning  by  way  of  the  Cape  de  Verds  with  a 
cargo  of  salt,  and  now  thoroughly  broken  in  to 
the  rough  and  tumble  of  a  sailor's  life,  and  in- 


30         CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

ured  to  all  its  vices.  A  cruise  to  St.  Domingo 
and  back  to  Newburyport  completed  the  year 
1788,  in  the  course  of  which  his  vessel  sprung 
a  leak  in  a  gale,  and  by  working  at  the  pumps 
he  was  fatigued  to  that  degree  that  death 
seemed  almost  desirable,  all  unfit  for  it  as  he 
then  was. 

Being  of  a  social  turn  at  this  age,  and  finding 
congeniality,  a  warm  attachment  seems  to  have 
been  formed  with  the  people  of  Newburyport, 
whom  he  began  to  esteem  as  fathers  and  broth- 
ers. "With  them,"  he  says,  "I  would  go  to 
church,  and  talk  of  .religion  too ;  but,  though 
given  up  at  the  same  time  to  all  kinds  of  wick- 
edness, yet  I  was  not  so  lost  to  all  future  con- 
cern but  that  I  bought  me  a  Bible  before  I  went 
to  sea  again."  This  was  probably  the  result 
of  some  promise  made  when  in  distress  on  the 
last  voyage. 

In  the  chances  and  changes  of  a  seaman's 
life,  young  Congar  is  next  sick  with  a  malig- 
nant fever  at  Port  au  Prince.  Greatly  alarmed 
and  anxious,  he  spent  much  time  in  reflection 
on  his  past  conduct,  and  frequently  resolved, 
should  he  be  spared,  to  amend  his  ways  and  be- 
come a  Christian.  But,  like  thousands  of  sea- 
men in  the  same  distress,  health  no  sooner  re- 
turned than  all  such  thoughts  were  banished 


MATE    AT    TWENTY-ONE.  31 

from  his  mind.  Through  God's  mercy  he  was 
saved,  and  we  find  him  successively  after  at 
Newburyport,  Norfolk,  London,  and  Orient 
France,  enlarging  his  knowledge  of  the  great 
world,  but,  as  himself  frequently  confesses,  ill 
preparing  for  the  world  to  come :  "  All  this  while 
I  was  daily  becoming  more  and  more  hardened 
in  sin ;  I  chose  to  follow  the  multitude  to  do 
evil,  and  scarcely  ever  looked  into  my  new  Bi- 
ble. Nevertheless,  the  force  of  education  was 
so  great,  that  at  times  I  would  attempt  to  pray. 
But,  God  knows,  my  prayers  needed  forgive- 
ness." 

In  December  of  1789,  he  being  now  in  the 
twenty-second  year  of  his  age,  and  evidently 
a  trusty  seaman,  proposals  were  made  him  to 
go  in  a  brig  in  the  capacity  of  a  first  mate. 
With  some  reluctance,  and  an  unfeigned  diffi- 
dence of  his  own  abilities,  he  assumed  the  berth. 
But,  owing  to  difficulties  with  his  men,  partly 
consequent  upon  his  own  conscientiousness,  he 
enters  in  his  diary  that  sometimes  he  would 
willingly  have  given  up  his  officership,  with  all 
its  cares  and  troubles,  and  all  the  profits  at- 
tached to  it,  and  have  returned  to  the  capacity 
ef  ft  sailor  again,  rather  than  be  continually  at 
war  with  those  under  his  direction. 

His  first  foreign  voyage  as  mate  to  Cowes,  in 


32  CAPTAIN    OBADIAH    CONGAR. 

the  Isle  of  Wight,  and  Bremen,  Germany,  was  a 
harassing  and  disastrous  one,  by  reason  of  dread- 
ful storms,  length  of  passage,  injury  to  cargo, 
and  the  loss  of  some  of  his  men,  and  the  reduc- 
tion to  short  allowance  of  bread,  beef,  and  wa- 
ter. On  the  16th  of  August,  1790,  being  bound 
from  Bremen  to  Charleston,  they  came  to  one 
and  a  half  biscuit  per  day,  and,  to  make  the 
water  serve,  he  enters  in  his  journal,  "we  used 
to  put  a  quill  in  a  bottle  and  drink  through  it, 
and  thereby  quench  thirst  without  using  so 
much  as  we  must  otherwise  have  done.  By 
this  time,  great  prospect  of  our  suffering  with 
hunger  began  to  appear,  we  being  a  long  way 
from  any  land,  and  in  the  calm  latitudes.  Ev- 
ery countenance  began  to  wear  the  aspect  of 
concern  ;  for  my  part,  the  unpleasant  situation 
in  which  we  were  placed  caused  many  serious 
reflections  in  my  mind.  I  viewed  it  as  the 
judgment  of  an  avenging  God  pursuing  me 
wherever  I  went.  But,  alas !  for  all  this  my 
heart  was  not  truly  humbled.  Nevertheless,  I 
thought  it  was  my  duty,  and,  as  I  had  often 
resolved,  I  now  attempted  to  set  about  a  new 
life ;  but  religion  which  has  no  foundation  but 
the  fear  of  present  and  future  evil  will  not  like- 
ly be  very  lasting.  Impressed  at  this  time  with 
a  sense  of  my  dependence  on  God,  I  wrote  the 


i  I.I:LINU  AFTER  GOD. 


following  prayer,  that  it  might  remain  an  evi- 
dence how  seriously  my  mind  was  affected  with 
our  situation.  Monday  forenoon.  —  O,  most 
gracious  Father  and  Lord,  be  pleased  to  look 
down  from  thy  holy  habitation,  and  have  mercy 
upon  us  miserable  creatures.  Forgive  us  our 
manifold  sins  and  transgressions,  which  from 
time  to  time  we  have  committed  against  thy 
divine  majesty.  And  O,  merciful  Saviour,  visit 
us  with  the  smiles  of  thy  blessed  grace,  that  we 
may  not  only  forsake  our  evil  ways,  which  we 
have  been  pursuing  all  our  lives  past,  but  that 
we  may  be  renewed  by  thy  good  Spirit,  and  be 
enabled  to  live  more  agreeably  to  thy  holy  will 
henceforward. 

"  Most  gracious  and  merciful  God,  as  it  hath 
pleased  thee  to  preserve  us,  from  time  to  time, 
upon  the  raging  seas,  and  to  hold  our  life  even 
when  we  expected  to  be  swallowed  up  of  the 
merciless  ocean,  so  likewise  be  pleased  of  thine 
infinite  goodness  at  this  time  to  extend  thy 
mercy  toward  us  guilty  creatures,  and  let  us 
not  perish  under  thy  bountiful  hand.  Grant  us 
favorable  winds,  O  Lord,  that  we  may  be  deliv- 
ered from  our  troubles,  and  be  brought  to  our 
desired  port.  And  O,  heavenly  Father,  give 
us  hearts  ever  thankful  to  thee  for  all  thy  good- 
ness toward  us  unworthy  sinners,  and  that  wo 


34  CAPTAIN    OBADIAH    CONGAR. 

may  ever  bless  and  praise  thy  holy  name,  give 
all  honor  to  thee  who  art  ever  just  and  right- 
eous, for  the  sake  of  thy  dear  Son,  Savior  of 
the  world.  Amen. 

"On  the  evening  of  the  same  day  there  sprung 
up  a  breeze  to  the  eastward,  which  gave  us  a 
run  on  our  passage.  And  Providence  designed, 
to  lessen  our  troubles  still  more,  that  we  might 
see  his  power  in  the  deep,  and  be  led  to  adore 
his  condescending  goodness  to  the  worst  of  sin- 
ners. The  next  evening  we  spoke  a  Portuguese 
ship  from  the  coast  of  Brazil  bound  to  Lisbon. 
We  went  on  board  of  her  and  got  about  one 
hundred  and  fifty  pounds  of  rice,  one  barrel  of 
cassada  meal,  eight  pounds  of  sugar,  and  about 
ten  pounds  of  pork,  which  articles  were  of  great 
use  to  us,  and  relieved  our  distresses  in  a  great 
measure. 

"  About  this  time,  in  opening  the  Bible,  I 
took  particular  notice  of  these  words  in  Isaiah : 
'  Behold,  the  Lord's  hand  is  not  shortened  that 
it  can  not  save,  neither  his  ear  heavy  that  it  can 
not  hear.'  This  led  me  to  admire  the  provi- 
dence of  God  in  stretching  forth  his  hand  to 
save  them  that  are  ready  to  perish,  and  hearing 
those  that  call  on  him  in  time  of  trouble.  For 
these  mercies  I  seemed  truly  thankful,  and 
promised  a  reformation  of  life;  and  had  I  sought 


RELIGION    IN    EMBRYO.  35 

to  him  whose  hand  is  not  shortened  that  it  can 
not  save,  perhaps  I  might  have  been  enabled  to 
fulfill  this  promise  in  some  measure ;  but,  put- 
ting confidence  in  my  own  strength  and  abili- 
ties, my  resolutions  proved  like  the  morning 
cloud,  or  the  early  dew  when  the  sun  is  risen. 

"From  the  time  we  spoke  the  Portuguese 
ship  until  we  saw  another  sail  was  nearly  twen- 
ty days,  in  which  time  our  distresses  would 
have  greatly  increased  had  we  not  met  with 
the  above  relief.  When  we  arrived  at  Charles- 
ton, we  had  not  any  provisions  at  all  for  more 
than  six  days.  September  13th  we  made  the 
light-house,  and  the  same  day,  with  much  dif- 
ficulty, got  into  port.  I  returned  thanks  to 
God  for  his  special  mercies  toward  us  in  pre- 
serving us  when  want  and  famine,  with  all  its 
awful  consequences,  seemed  to  threaten  us,  and 
for  restoring  us  to  our  desired  port  once  more 
in  safety.  But,  nevertheless,  my  heart  was  far 
alienated  from  God. 

"  I  had  often  resolved  while  at  sea,  if  we 
should  arrive  safe,  that  I  would  leave  the  brig, 
and  return  home  to  my  native  place,  having 
been  some  time  from  it,  but  the  captain  not 
being  willing  to  part  with  me,  I  concluded  to 
go  another  voyage.  We  were  employed  taking 
in  our  cargo  and  getting  ready  for  sea  until  the 


36  CAPTAIN    OBAIJIAH    CONGAR. 

6th  of  October,  when  we  sailed  for  the  island 
of  St.  Martin's.  This  voyage  was  principally 
undertaken  with  the  view  to  bring  back  a  car- 
go of  salt.  From  the  time  we  sailed  until  No- 
vember 1st  nothing  extraordinary  happened. 
Being  then  in  the  latitude  of  Barbuda,  a  small 
island  to  the  eastward  of  St.  Martin's,  at  eisfht 

*  o 

o'clock  in  the  evening  we  hove  our  ship  to  un- 
der the  two  top-sails,  with  her  head  to  the 
southward,  supposing,  by  our  observation,  to  be 
something  to  the  southward  of  the  island,  and 
by  this  means  we  could  not  drift  on  to  it.  At 
midnight  we  could  not  observe  any  thing  like 
land,  nor  any  appearance  of  the  water  being 
colored.  At  one  A.M.,  it  being  dark,  but  pret- 
ty moderate,  the  first  thing  we  knew,  the  vessel 
struck  upon  rocks,  which  soon  brought  us  upon 
deck,  and  in  great  confusion,  for  we  soon  ob- 
served rocks  on  every  side,  and  some  above  the 
water.  Directly  after  we  discovered  land,  and, 
to  our  astonishment,  to  the  southward  of  us. 
We  used  every  endeavor  to  get  clear,  but  all  to 
no  purpose,  except  that  we  got  our  vessel  in 
such  a  situation  that  she  could  not  sink  entire- 
ly under  water.  Finding  every  attempt  to  get 
off  fail  us,  we  let  go  an  anchor,  hove  out  the 
long  boat,  and  sounded  for  the  best  water.  At 
daylight  we  carried  out  a  kedge  anchor,  and 


SHIPWRECK    AT    BARBUDA.  37 

hove  upon  it,  but  in  vain;  and  about  seven 
A.M.  she  bilged,  and,  being  most  water  forward, 
her  bows  sunk  entirely  under,  but  her  stern 
was  kept  up  by  rocks  which  she  had  got  fast 
upon. 

"  Circumstanced  as  we  were,  it  is  highly 
reasonable  to  conclude  we  must  all  have  per- 
ished had  the  wind  blown  fresh  from  the  north- 
ward. I  count  this  deliverance  among  the  many 
providential  escapes  from  threatening  death 
which  I  have  experienced,  and  for  which  I  de- 
sire to  be  truly  thankful.  At  eight  A.M.,  find- 
ing the  leak  increasing  fast  upon  us,  we  left  the 
pumps,  and  endeavored  to  save  what  we  could 
with  our  boat.  The  first  load  we  took  on  shore 
was  our  clothing,  and  some  provisions  and  wa- 
ter, not  knowing  that  either  of  these  things,  or 
even  inhabitants,  were  to  be  found  there,  the 
island  appearing  barren  and  wild.  This  island 
lies  in  the  latitude  of  eighteen  degrees  north, 
and  about  the  longitude  of  sixty-one  and  a  half 
west.  The  whole  island  (being  small)  belongs 
to  a  gentleman  in  England,  who  has  an  over- 
seer or  governor  upon  it,  who  manages  his  busi- 
ness. This  governor  has  one  white  overseer 
under  him,  and  about  one  hundred  slaves,  whose 
business  chiefly  is  to  raise  stock  and  carry  it  to 
Antigua,  which  lies  about  thirty  miles  to  the 


38         CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

southward  of  Barbuda.  There  are  kept  here 
two  small  vessels,  which  carry  the  produce  of 
the  island  to  the  aforesaid  place,  and  also  two 
large  boats,  rowed  by  fourteen  hands,  which  are 
sent  to  the  assistance  of  those  whose  lot  it  may 
be  to  get  on  these  rocks,  which  almost  surround 
the  island. 

"  When  the  boat  landed,  some  negroes  who 
were  near  the  place  came  and  conducted  the 
captain  to  the  governor's  house,  where  he  re- 
mained until  next  morning,  and  ordered  the 
boat  on  board,  with  directions  to  load  her  again 
with  the  most  valuable  articles,  and  all  to  come 
on  shore,  which  we  did,  and  landed  a  little  be- 
fore dark.  The  next  morning  we  all  went  on 
board  again,  and  endeavored  to  save  what  we 
could,  and  brought  it  on  shore,  where  we  re- 
mained the  second  night ;  and  the  day  follow- 
ing, returning  on  board,  we  brought  every  thing 
which  it  was  possible  to  save. 

"  November  5th,  we  sailed  with  the  effects  of 
the  wreck  for  Antigua,  where  we  arrived  the 
next  day,  and  the  effects,  being  landed,  were 
sold  at  auction,  when  we  received  our  wages, 
and  every  one  took  what  course  he  thought 
proper.  I  took  passage  for  the  island  of  Gua- 
daloupe,  in  hopes  to  meet  with  some  vessel  for 
New  York;  but,  not  finding  any,  I  proceeded 


RESTORED    TO    COUNTRY    AND    FRIENDS.         39 

to  St.  Eustatia,  and  from  thence  to  St.  Mar- 
tin's, where  I  fell  in  with  the  sloop  Arabia,  Cap- 
tain Johnson,  bound  for  New  York,  who  offered 
me  a  passage,  which  I  willingly  accepted.  We 
sailed  November  28th,  and,  after  a  passage  of 
twenty-one  days,  arrived  at  New  York. 

"  From  thence  I  proceeded  to  Newark,  to  visit 
my  relations  and  friends,  having  been  absent 
from  them  about  three  years.  I  was  received 
by  my  connections  and  acquaintance  with 
marks  of  sincere  congratulation,  some  of  whom 
professed  a  great  desire  that  I  would  quit  the 
seafaring  business,  and  undertake  something  on 
shore.  But  I  had  become  too  great  a  rover  to 
listen  to  such  entreaties.  After  spending  a  few 
days  at  Newark,  I  went  to  see  my  parents  at 
New  Windsor,  whom  I  had  not  visited  in  five 
years,  and  who  always  had  expressed  great  sat- 
isfaction on  my  returning  from  sea.  I  remained 
with  them  about  ten  days,  when  a  letter  was 
received  from  my  brother  at  Newark  that  a 
Mr.  S.  wanted  me  to  return  and  act  as  mate  of 
a  schooner  which  he  was  fitting  out  for  North 
Carolina,  and  commanded  by  William  Whit- 
more.  To  this  I  consented,  and  we  sailed  from 
New  York  February  3d,  1791,  for  Wilmington. 

"  I  now  began  to  throw  off'  that  watchfulness 
over  my  conduct  and  seeming  duty  to  God 


40         CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

which  engaged  my  thoughts  in  times  of  distress, 
and  had  nearly  forgotten  all  the  promises  I  had 
made  heretofore.  And  though  I  did  not  give 
way  altogether  to  such  gross  acts  of  sin  as  I 
had  been  guilty  of  before,  yet,  it  grieves  me  to 
say,  I  lived  entirely  in  the  neglect  of  every  re- 
ligious duty,  and  became  more  and  more  care- 
less about  my  eternal  welfare.  How  wonderful 
is  the  forbearance  and  long-suffering  of  God  in 
sparing  such  guilty  creatures.  Surely  it  is  be- 
cause the  Lord  is  God  and  not  man  that  we  are 
not  consumed. 

"  We  arrived  at  our  desired  port  after  a  pas- 
sage of  twelve  days,  where  we  lay  some  time, 
and  then  proceeded  for  Charleston,  South  Car- 
olina, and  from  thence  to  New  York  again, 
where  we  arrived  the  first  of  April,  fitted  out 
for  the  West  Indies,  and  sailed  the  sixteenth  for 
St.  Thomas,  an  island  belonging  to  the  Danes. 
We  reached  it  in  safety,  after  a  passage  of 
twenty-five  days,  and  lay  about  eight  weeks 
discharging  our  cargo  and  taking  in  another. 

"Being  ready  for  sea,  July  14th,  we  sailed 
for  New  York  again,  where  we  arrived  after  a 
moderate  passage  of  twenty  days.  August  25th, 
I  engaged  on  board  the  same  vessel  again  for 
the  purpose  of  fitting  out  with  a  cargo  of  horses 
for  Port  au  Prince. 


DIVINE    PROVIDENCE    ILLUSTRATED.  41 

"  By  this  time,  I  say  it  sorrowing,  I  had  be- 
come, as  it  were,  an  abandoned  reprobate,  and 
had  put  off  the  fear  of  God  from  before  my  eyes. 
Why  was  I  not  cast  off  and  plunged  into  the 
deepest  hell  ?  Why  did  the  Almighty  reach 
forth  his  hand  and  save  me  when,  to  all  appear- 
ance, we  were  in  imminent  danger  ?  To  illus- 
trate the  mercy  of  God  to  me  in  a  providential 
manner,  I  shall  relate  a  circumstance  which 
took  place  October  6th,  being  then  in  the  lati- 
tude of  twenty-seven  degrees  north,  and  longi- 
tude of  sixty-six  degrees  west. 

"  Toward  evening  of  the  afore-mentioned  day, 
it  began  to  blow  fresh,  and  came  on  very  thick 
weather.  Accordingly,  we  shortened  sail.  It 
continued  to  blow  much  the  same,  with  exces- 
sive heavy  rain  and  exceedingly  dark,  until 
about  eleven  P.M.,  when,  all  on  a  sudden,  we 
were  struck  by  a  violent  squall,  which  knocked 
us  down  on  our  beam  ends,  and,  at  the  same 
time,  all  the  hay  that  was  upon  the  awning 
went  overboard.  Providentially  for  us,  the 
horses  had  been  well  secured  before  night,  so 
that  none  of  them  fetched  away  or  broke  loose. 
Had  not  this  been  the  case,  in  all  probability 
we  should  have  been  lost,  for  every  thing  in  the 
cabin  fell  to  leeward,  and  it  was  with  great  dif- 
ficulty that  the  watch  below  got  on  deck.  We 


4'J  CAPTAIN1    ODADIAII    COXGAR. 

lay  in  this  condition  about  five  minutes,  in  the 
course  of  which  time  we  cut  the  main  halyards 
and  got  the  sail  down.  Upon  this  being  done, 
she  wore  round,  and  having  got  her  before  the 
wind,  she  righted,  and  we  continued  to  scud  to 
the  westward  until  daylight,  when  we  hove  to 
under  a  balanced  main  sail.  In  the  after  part 
of  the  day  the  wind  shifted  suddenly  to  the 
westward,  attended  with  tremendous  flashes  of 
lightning,  insomuch  that  the  sea  appeared  as  if 
it  were  all  on  fire,  while  the  hoarse  thunder  fol- 
lowed, peal  on  peal,  as  though  nature  were 
about  to  give  its  last  expiring  groan. 

"  During  this  voyage  in  particular,  I  had  be- 
come very  profane,  and  had  almost  totally  ban- 
ished the  fear  of  God  from  my  mind.  But, 
while  lying  in  Port  an  Prince,  I  was  seized  with 
a  fever,  which  brought  me  to  reflect  a  little,  so 
that  I  left  the  practice  of  swearing,  and  would 
sometimes  attempt  to  pray.  But  those  were 
prayers  that  needed  forgiveness. 

"  We  arrived  at  New  York  from  Port  au 
Prince  December  18th,  and,  having  discharged 
our  cargo,  I  left  the  vessel,  determining  never 
to  go  another  voyage  with  a  load  of  live-stock ; 
and  as  Mr.  S.  gave  me  to  understand  that  he 
intended  to  put  horses  on  board,  I  gave  up  all 
idea  of  proceeding  in  her,  and  on  the  twenty- 


KM.I3T8    FOR    A    VOYAGE    TO    CHINA  43 


fourth  of  said  month  went  over  to  Newark,  with 
an  intention  to  remain  at  home  through  the 
winter,  and  study  the  French  language,  from 
an  apprehension  that  it  might  be  of  signal  serv- 
ice to  me  in  the  West  India  trade.  I  engaged 
in  and  continued  my  study,  though  not  with  the 
strictest  attention,  until  the  sixth  of  March, 
1792.  At  this  time,  my  teacher  being  taken 
sick,  and  having  run  through  nearly  all  my 
money,  I  began  to  think  it  high  time  to  go  to 
sea  again.  Accordingly,  I  went  over  to  New 
York  with  a  view  to  look  for  a  berth,  and  hap- 
pening to  fall  in  with  an  acquaintance  who  was 
going  as  second  mate  of  the  ship  Nancy,  Cap- 
tain Wheaton,  for  Canton,  in  China,  the  voyage 
pleasing  me,  I  engaged  to  go  before  the  mast  or 
otherwise,  in  the  capacity  of  a  sailor. 

"  Being  about  to  undertake  a  voyage  which 
would  be  longer  than  I  had  been  accustomed 
to,  I  began  to  consider  seriously  what  I  had 
been  doing,  and  to  take  myself  to  task  for  my 
past  life.  I  had  been  living  in  a  course  of  sin 
and  neglect  of  religion  for  many  months.  Add 
to  this,  that  I  considered  my  time  and  money 
spent  to  little  advantage  while  studying  French. 
Once  more,  then,  I  resolved  to  quit  my  sinful 
habits,  and  live  more  conformably  to  that  relig- 
ion which  I  had  been  educated  in.  But,  alas! 


44  CAPTAIN    OBADIAH    CONGAR. 

evil  had  become  so  rooted  in  my  very  nature, 
that  nothing  short  of  Almighty  power  could 
heal  my  corrupted  heart,  and  enable  me  to  tread 
the  paths  of  virtue  and  piety. 

"  We  had  a  very  favorable  passage  to  the 
island  of  St.  Jago,  one  of  the  Cape  de  Verds, 
where  we  watered  and  replenished  our  stock, 
and  sailed  again  on  the  sixteenth  of  April,  and 
reached  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  by  the  twen- 
ty-third of  June.  At  this  place  are  two  road- 
steads, one  at  Table  Bay,  which  is  the  principal 
place  at  the  Cape,  and  the  other  at  False  Bay, 
which  lies  on  the  southeast  side  of  the  prom- 
ontory, and  where  ships  ride  from  May  until 
October.  About  this  time  the  prevailing  winds 
come  from  the  southeast,  and  then  ships  go 
round  to  Table  Bay  until  the  May  following. 

"  We  lay  at  the  Cape  until  July  llth,  dis- 
charging part  of  our  cargo  and  taking  on  board 
seal  skins.  Great  part  of  the  time  we  lay  at 
this  place  the  winds  blew  exceedingly  strong 
from  the  northwest  quarter,  which  being  favor- 
able for  us,  we  proceeded  in  due  time  on  our 
way  to  Canton.  August  21st,  we  entered  the 
Straits  of  Sunda.  On  the  twenty-second  we 
were  off  Ango  Point,  and  several  canoes  came 
alongside  with  turtle,  poultry,  fruit,  tortoise 
shell,  walking-sticks,  monkeys,  birds,  and  a  va- 


REMARKS    ON    THE    MALAYS.  45 

riety  of  curiosities.  The  land  along  here  ap- 
peared very  fertile,  with  abundance  of  cocoa- 
nut  trees. 

"  The  town  at  Ango  Point  is  small  and  very 
compact,  built  with  bamboo  and  covered  with 
thatch,  and  inhabited  by  natives  who  are  called 
Malays,  an  uncivilized  and  very  savage  people. 
The  Malays  are  generally  about  five  feet  two 
or  three  inches  high,  not  very  stout  made,  and 
of  a  copper  or  tawny  complexion.  In  the  Straits 
of  Malacca,  and  among  all  those  islands,  they 
frequently  capture  merchantmen,  the  crews  of 
which  they  instantly  put  to  death.  These  peo- 
ple make  use  of  a  composition  called  fanam, 
which  they  chew  in  order  to  make  their  teeth 
black. 

"  From  the  Straits  of  Sunda  to  Canton  we 
had  favorable  winds,  and  on  the  thirteenth  of 
September  made  the  Grand  Ladrone  Island, 
and  the  same  day  came  to  anchor  in  Macao 
Roads.  Macao  is  a  considerable  town,  inhab- 
ited by  the  Chinese  and  Portuguese ;  but  though 
it  is  partly  garrisoned  by  the  latter,  yet  they 
have  but  little  to  say  respecting  the  police. 
They  are  the  only  nation  who  are  entitled  to 
the  privilege  of  settling  in  China,  this  favor  be- 
ing granted  them  on  account  of  their  being  the 
first  navigators  that  found  a  passage  from  Eu- 


46         CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

rope  to  this  great  empire  by  water,  thus  open- 
ing the  great  trade  now  carried  on  from  all 
parts  of  the  world  to  this  country. 

"  September  14th,  we  proceeded  up  to  Wam- 
poa,  a  small  town  about  fourteen  miles  below 
Canton,  and  nearly  one  hundred  from  Macao. 
Here  the  shipping  lie,  there  not  being  water 
sufficient  for  them  to  proceed  further  up.  Thus, 
after  a  passage  of  nearly  six  months  (including 
the  time  we  lay  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope),  we 
arrived  at  what  the  Chinese  vaingloriously  call 
the  Celestial  Empire,  the  distance  being  about 
twelve  thousand  miles  from  America. 

"  As  I  hinted  at  the  commencement  of  this 
voyage,  my  mind  took  a  religious  turn  again, 
and  on  the  passage  I  had  often  formed  resolu- 
tions to  betake  myself  to  such  a  course  of  life 
as  would  insure  some  happiness,  having,  upon 
mature  consideration,  come  to  this  conclusion, 
that  happiness  was  not  to  be  found  in  a  sinful 
course  of  life :  thence  the  reason  why  I  had 
never  experienced  any.  Having  much  oppor- 
tunity, my  mind  was  much  employed  contem- 
plating on  these  things.  Yet,  under  these  im- 
pressions, I  could  not  see  that  beauty  in  religion 
that  I  would  be  willing  to  give  up  all  for  the 
sake  of  it ;  and  though  I  had  beheld  many  of 
the  wonders  of  Providence,  yet  I  could  not  take 
God  for  my  portion. 


PERILOUS  BOATING  TO  MACAO.       47 

"  About  a  month  after  our  arrival  at  Canton, 
a  Captain  Smith,  who  had  sold  his  vessel  in 
India,  a  Mr.  Green,  and  Mr.  Woods,  who  had 
been  mates  of  vessels,  had  some  business  to 
Macao,  and,  as  we  were  not  much  employed  on 
board,  they  prevailed  upon  Captain  Wheaton 
to  let  them  take  the  ship's  long  boat  and  two 
hands  to  take  them  to  the  above-mentioned 
place,  having  with  them  two  American  sailors, 
one  of  them  named  Allen  and  the  other  Melvin, 
besides  a  Frenchman,  who  wished  to  take  a 
passage  with  us. 

"  David  Andress  and  myself  were  the  two 
pitched  upon  for  this  expedition.  We  left  the 
ship  on  Saturday,  October  13th,  1792,  at  about 
one  o'clock  P.M.,  being  eight  in  number.  The 
wind  being  favorable,  though  but  light,  and  the 
tide  being  with  us,  we  passed  through  the  Bogue 
of  Tigris,  which  is  about  thirty-five  miles  from 
Canton,  at  eight  P.M.  We  continued  on  as  far 
as  Green  Island,  and  came  to  anchor  about  nine 
miles  from  the  Bogue  of  Tigris,  it  being  thought 
imprudent  to  run  in  the  night,  on  account  of  the 
fishing  stakes  placed  in  different  parts  of  the 
passage  which  leads  from  Canton  to  Macao. 
By  means  of  a  rope  stretched  from  one  to  the 
other,  about  eight  feet  from  the  water,  for  the 
purpose  of  strengthening  them,  the  passage  is 
rendered  very  dangerous  for  small  boats. 


48  CAPTAIN    OB  ADI  AH    CONGAR. 

"  Under  an  apprehension  that  these  stakes 
might  be  fatal  to  us  should  we  venture  to  run 
in  the  night,  our  gentlemen  thought  most  pru- 
dent to  come  to  anchor  and  wait  for  daylight. 
Now,  however  imprudent  it  might  be  to  run 
while  the  tide  was  against  us,  it  certainly  was 
much  more  so  with  the  tide  in  our  favor.  Nev- 
ertheless, our  gentlemen  became  impatient,  and, 
the  wind  springing  up  pretty  fresh,  they  determ- 
ined to  get  under  way  and  proceed  on  our  pas- 
sage. Accordingly,  we  hove  our  anchor  up  at 
half  past  one  o'clock  on  Sunday  morning,  the 
fourteenth  of  October.  The  wind  blowing  fresh, 
we  took  a  reef  in  our  main  sail,  and,  as  it  was 
dark,  one  person  was  stationed  in  the  bow  of 
the  boat,  with  a  cutlass  in  his  hand,  that  he 
might  cut  the  rope  in  case  we  should  see  and 
could  not  avoid  it. 

"  We  had  not  run  more  than  two  hours  when 
the  one  forward  upon  the  look-out  cried  out  to 
the  man  at  the  helm  that  the  stakes  were  ahead, 
the  boat  going  at  so  great  a  rate  that  the  words 
were  scarcely  out  of  his  mouth  before  we  were 
foul  of  the  rope,  the  man  with  the  cutlass  miss- 
ing his  blow.  The  tide  was  running  so  rapid 
that  the  boat  upset  and  filled  in  an  instant ;  see- 
ing which,  I  sprang  for  the  rope,  and  held  on, 
while  the  boat  was  carried  down  with  the  tide. 


PROVIDENTIAL    AND    STRANGE    ESCAPE.         49 

Supposing  it  bad  sunk,  having  stone  ballast  in, 
I  held  on  to  the  rope  a  few  moments,  when 
something  coming  across  my  hands  broke  them 
loose,  and  I  was  left  on  the  water  to  shift  as 
well  as  I  could,  the  night  being  dark,  and  we 
at  least  ten  miles  from  any  land. 

"  It  were  impossible  for  me  to  describe  my 
doleful  apprehensions  at  this  juncture.  I  cried, 
*  Lord,  have  mercy  on  me !'  and  saw  no  pros- 
pect but  that  this  was  all  of  earth  to  me.  Hear- 
ing some  of  my  companions  hallooing,  I  joined 
in  the  general  cry,  hoping  that  some  fishing 
boat  might  be  near  us.  In  this  sad  dilemma,  I 
swam  toward  them,  not  supposing,  at  the  same 
time,  they  had  any  better  dependence  than  my- 
self. But  blessed  be  God !  who  in  this  trying 
time  was  near  and  ready  to  save  by  a  provi- 
dence all  his  own.  It  so  happened,  when  the 
boat  went  down  or  upset,  that  the  ballast  tum- 
bled out ;  therefore  she  floated,  and,  as  I  came 
up  with  the  others,  I  found  part  of  them  hold- 
ing on  to  the  wreck,  which  kept  them  from 
sinking.  But,  alas!  those  gloomy  waters  that 
dismal  night  were  already  the  grave  of  three  of 
our  number.  These  were  Allen,  Melvin,  and 
the  Frenchman,  whom  we  never  heard  of  more. 
Reflect  upon  this  providential  discrimination  for 
thee,  oh  my  soul,  and  bless  God  that  thou  wast 
D 


50  CAPTAIN    OBADIAH    CONGAR. 

not  numbered  with  thy  companions  who  met 
an  untimely  death. 

"As  soon  as  I  had  hold  of  the  boat,  I  exercised 
myself  immediately  in  securing  some  spars  to- 
gether to  keep  myself  up,  and  in  this  condition 
fancied  I  was  as  safe  as  on  land,  comparatively 
speaking,  and  I  thanked  God  for  the  signal  in- 
terposition of  his  providence  in  saving  me  in  so 
perilous  a  time.  Had  I  been  truly  sensible  of 
our  critical  situation,  perhaps  I  should  not  have 
felt  so  easy,  for  we  were  now  nearly  eight  miles 
from  land,  and  the  night  very  dark.  Moreover, 
the  wind  beginning  to  blow  quite  hard,  the 
swell  rose  so  as  to  almost  wash  us  from  the 
boat.  And,  besides,  the  inhospitality  of  the  Chi- 
nese is  such  that  we  had  something  to  fear,  rath- 
er than  any  thing  to  hope  from  them,  in  our  dif- 
cult  circumstances. 

"  While  in  this  situation  we  felt  the  cold  se- 
verely ;  the  water  was  chilled,  and  we  without 
clothing,  for  we  had  thrown  the  most  part  off, 
so  that  our  condition  was  truly  distressing.  We 
drifted  down  with  the  tide  and  wind,  without  a 
glimmering  of  relief,  until  daylight,  which  was 
nearly  three  hours  from  the  time  we  upset. 

"  As  soon  as  it  was  fairly  light,  we  discovered 
some  fishing  boats  at  anchor  about  two  miles 
from  us,  and  as  the  tide  and  wind  drifted  us 


SAVED    BY    CHINESE    FISHERMEN.  51 

directly  toward  them,  our  hopes  revived,  but 
only  to  sink  again ;  for,  the  tide  being  nearly 
spent,  we  soon  ceased  to  drift,  and  melancholy 
sat  upon  each  countenance. 

"  We  now  joined  our  voices,  in  hopes  that 
some  of  them  might  hear  us ;  and,  although  we 
judged  we  were  fairly  within  hearing,  yet  no 
one  regarded.  In  this  desperate  and  unfriend- 
ed peril,  one  small  ray  of  hope  yet  remained. 
The  tide  of  flood  being  made,  we  saw  several 
Chinese  boats  getting  under  way  to  beat  up. 
After  some  time,  one  of  them,  standing  across 
the  bay,  came  pretty  near  us,  and  we  made 
signs  to  them  of  our  distress,  but  all  in  vain ; 
they  looked  on  and  passed  us  by,  like  the  priest 
and  the  Levite. 

"  But  it  pleased  the  Lord  that  we  should  not 
perish.  In  a  short  time  after  another  boat  came 
near,  when,  with  our  cries,  and  offering  them  a 
gold  watch  which  one  of  the  gentlemen  had 
saved,  besides  one  hundred  dollars,  they  were 
prevailed  upon  to  take  pity  on  us  and  carry  us 
to  Macao.  These,  indeed,  seemed  to  have  some 
feeling  for  the  distressed,  for  they  gave  us  some 
clothes  to  put  on  (we  having  been  about  four 
hours  in  the  chill  water,  and  the  weather  quite 
cool),  and  some  boiled  rice  and  cakes  to  eat. 
We  got  the  boat  bailed  out,  and  saved  the  most 


52         CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

of  the  sails  and  rigging,  and  took  her  in  tow 
with  us  to  Macao,  where  we  arrived  at  five  P.M. 
the  same  day. 

"  Methinks  if  I  ever  exercised  gratitude  to- 
ward the  Supreme  Being  for  any  deliverance,  I 
did  at  this  time,  and  not  without  resolutions  to 
live  henceforth  in  a  very  different  manner  from 
what  I  had  done.  Yea,  I  thought  now  none 
should  ever  turn  me  from  my  serious  purpose 
of  serving  God.  We  remained  in  Macao  until 
the  Saturday  following,  repairing  and  fitting 
our  boat  in  order  to  return  to  Wampoa,  where 
we  arrived  on  the  Tuesday  evening  following, 
to  the  joy  of  all  on  board. 

"  By  the  twenty-sixth  of  December,  our  ship 
being  loaded  and  ready  for  sea,  we  unmoored 
and  dropped  down  the  river,  in  company  with 
the  ship  Hunter,  Captain  Homestead,  bound  to 
New  York.  December  28th,  passed  Macao, 
discharged  the  pilot,  and  stood  to  sea,  with  a 
fine  breeze  and  glad  hearts.  We  had  a  fine  run 
to  North  Island,  in  the  Straits  of  Sunda,  where 
homeward-bound  ships  frequently  touch  for 
wood  and  water.  As  soon  as  we  had  brought 
our  ship  to  anchor  and  furled  her  sails,  on  the 
thirteenth  of  January,  1793,  we  hove  the  boats 
out,  and  went  with  them  wooding  and  watering. 
On  the  same  day  the  Hunter  came  to  anchor 
hero  nl^o. 


INCIDENTS    OF   HOMEWARD    VOYAGE.  53 

"  The  natives  here  are  much  more  savage 
than  at  Ango  Point,  insomuch  that  we  found  it 
necessary  to  go  armed  with  muskets  and  cut- 
lasses, in  case  we  should  be  attacked  by  them. 
Tuesday,  the  fifteenth,  we  sailed  from  North  Isl- 
and, and  on  the  seventeenth  left  the  Straits  of 
Sunda.  We  stood  into  the  latitude  of  about 
ten  degrees  south,  where,  having  a  good  trade 
wind,  we  shaped  our  course  for  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope. 

"  At  this  time  my  mind  took  a  more  serious 
turn  than  ever  on  the  things  which  concern  the 
soul ;  and  now  I  resolved  to  make  religion  the 
principal  concern  of  my  life.  We  had  a  favor- 
able time  until  we  arrived  at  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope,  which  was  on  the  eighth  of  March.  Here 
we  lay  trafficking  and  repairing  our  rudder, 
which  was  in  bad  condition,  until  the  twenty- 
first  of  the  same  month,  when  we  sailed  for  the 
West  Indies. 

"  April  27th,  in  latitude  sixteen  degrees  and 
twenty  minutes  north,  and  longitude  fifty-seven 
degrees  west,  we  saw  a  sail  standing  toward 
us ;  and,  being  desirous  to  speak  her,  we  took 
in  our  light  sails  and  laid  aback.  She  soon 
came  up  with  us,  and  proved  to  be  a  small 
armed  sloop.  We  hailed  her  from  whence  she 
came.  The  answer  was,  '  From  a  cruise,  and 


54         CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

bound  on  a  cruise.'  At  the  same  time  we  ob- 
served her  decks  to  be  full  of  men,  and  saw  that 
she  was  armed  to  the  teeth. 

"  Surprised  and  alarmed  at  this,  not  know- 
ing any  thing  of  the  war  between  France  and 
England,  some  believed  her  to  be  a  pirate.  As 
she  passed  along  under  our  lee  and  wore  ship, 
we  cleared  our  guns  and  loaded  them  well,  get- 
ting them  all  on  one  side.  But  when  they 
came  up  with  us  the  second  time,  they  were 
more  mild  in  their  language,  and  informed  us 
there  was  war  in  Europe,  and  that  they  had 
letters  of  marque  and  reprisal,  and  were  cruis- 
ing for  French  ships.  They  examined  our  pa- 
pers, and  being  in  want  of  water,  we  supplied 
them  with  a  cask,  and  parted,  happy  to  find  it 
no  worse. 

"  Monday,  the  twenty-ninth,  made  the  island 
of  Guadaloupe,  and  on  the  thirtieth  came  to 
anchor  in  St.  Eustatia  Roads,  the  ship  Wash- 
ington lying  here,  which  had  sailed  eleven  days 
before  us  from  Canton.  We  lay  in  St.  Eusta- 
tia till  the  eleventh  of  May,  and  then  sailed  for 
New  York,  where  we  arrived  after  a  pleasant 
passage  of  eleven  days,  much  rejoiced  to  see 
my  native  land  once  more,  especially  when 
looking  back  and  reflecting  what  various  and 
giant  dangers  I  had  escaped.  Country  and 


HAPPINESS    OP    A    HOME    ASHORE.  55 

friends  seemed  dearer  to  me  than  ever  before ; 
the  wish  of  my  heart  was  that  I  might  never 
leave  them  more,  and  I  envied  those  who  were 
quietly  settled  ashore." 


HAPPY  the  man,  not  doomed  afar  to  roam, 

In  distant  lands,  beneath  a  foreign  sky, 

Who  hath  a  humble  and  secluded  home, 

Bathed  by  the  little  brook  that  prattles  by, 

With  trees  begirt,  and  birds  that  warble  nigh. 

He,  as  he  sitteth  in  his  humble  state, 

Hath  little  cause  for  earth's  poor  gauds  to  sigh ; 

He  needs  not  envy  whom  the  world  calls  great, 

Who  live  in  splendid  house,  with  men  that  on  them  wait 


56  CAPTAIN    OBADIAH    CONGAR. 


CHAPTER    III. 

RELIGIOUS    CONVICTIONS,    PROVIDENCES,    TRIALS, 
AND    TRIUMPHS. 

MAN'S  spirit  hath  an  upward  look, 
And  robes  itself  with  heavenly  wings; 
E'en  when  'tis  here  compelled  to  brook 
Confinement  to  terrestrial  things. 
Its  eye  is  fastened  on  the  skies ; 
Its  wings  for  flight  are  opened  wide ; 
Why  doth  it  hesitate  to  rise  ? 
And  still  upon  the  earth  abide  ? 

T.  C.  UPHAM. 

WE  have  now  reached  a  period  in  this  auto- 
biography when  the  POWERS  OF  THE  WORLD  TO 
COME  seized  the  subject  of  it  with  a  grasp  that 
was  never  after  lost,  though  sometimes  relaxed, 
until  himself  passed  into  that  dread  world.  We 
have  seen  the  growing  seriousness  of  mind  and 
gratitude  to  God  induced  by  danger  and  deliv- 
erance, and  that  ease  did  not  at  once  recant 
vows  made  in  pain.  His  first  act,  on  getting 
once  more  among  his  friends  at  Newark,  was 
to  offer  up  public  thanks  in  church  to  the  Au- 
thor and  Preserver  of  his  life  for  his  great  good- 
ness in  restoring  him  in  safety  to  his  relatives 
and  native  land,  and  his  language  was  that  he 

'  O  D 


CAPTURED    BY    PRIVATEERS.  57 

had  now  resolved  to  make  it  the  business  of  his 
life  to  seek  and  do  the  will  of  that  God  who 
had  preserved  him  when  in  imminent  danger, 
and  when  all  hope  had  fled. 

It  was  not  long,  however,  that  he  remained 
ashore,  his  services  being  soon  called  for  as  mate 
of  a  vessel  to  the  West  Indies.  During  his  ab- 
sence at  this  time,  his  vessel  was  twice  over- 
hauled by  privateers,  and  a  prize-master  put 
on  board,  and  property  belonging  to  Frenchmen 
confiscated.  The  second  time  he  lay  sick  of  a 
fever  incurred  in  the  port  to  which  they  had 
been  ordered.  Scarcely  had  they  landed  the 
condemned  cargo  and  hastily  taken  another  and 
stood  out  to  sea,  when  they  were  boarded  by 
the  privateer  Fanny  and  Polly,  Captain  Don- 
ald, who,  after  examining  their  papers  and  the 
passengers'  trunks,  upon  suspicion  of  still  hav- 
ing French  property  on  board,  ordered  them  to 
Jamaica,  putting  a  prize-master  and  crew  on 
board,  and  taking  part  of  the  vessel's  crew  on 
board  the  privateer.  The  sick  mate  they  per- 
mitted to  remain  on  board  the  schooner  by  rea- 
son of  his  illness.  "  This,"  he  says,  "  was  a 
trying  time  to  me.  The  fever  ran  high,  and, 
the  cabin  being  full  of  passengers,  there  was 
no  place  where  I  could  be  comfortable,  and 
scarcely  any  one  to  give  me  a  drink  of  water. 


58         CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

In  this  situation  I  remained  until  we  arrived  at 
Port  Antonia,  on  the  east  end  of  Jamaica.  The 
next  day  after  our  arrival  I  went  on  shore  and 
sent  for  a  physician,  who  at  once  administered 
medicine.  I  continued  extremely  low  three  or 
four  days,  insomuch  that  there  was  little  hope 
of  my  recovery. 

"  At  this  time  my  thoughts  were  much  en- 
gaged about  the  concerns  of  my  soul.  I  viewed 
myself  as  a  great  sinner  threatened  with  death, 
and  without  hope,  except  such  as  arose  from 
an  idea  that  my  prayers  and  cries  might  pre- 
vail upon  the  Most  High  to  have  mercy  upon 
me.  This,  however,  did  not  give  me  peace.  I 
read  the  Bible  whenever  I  was  able ;  I  repented 
because  I  was  afraid  of  punishment ;  I  made 
solemn  vows,  if  the  Lord  spared  me,  that  I 
would  live  a  better  life ;  and,  at  the  same  time, 
the  tempter  was  permitted  to  fill  my  mind  with 
thoughts  too  bad  to  mention.  But  my  life  was 
to  be  prolonged,  to  show  what  was  in  my  heart. 
In  about  a  week's  time,  through  the  skillfulness 
of  my  physician  and  good  nursing,  it  pleased 
God  that  I  should  once  more  recover  so  far  as 
to  be  able  to  walk  about.  Nevertheless,  I  re- 
mained still  feeble,  and  under  apprehensions. 

"  On  the  nineteenth  we  were  ordered  round 
to  Kingston  to  take  our  trial.  I  was  put  on 


TAKES    THE    WEST    INDIA    SICKNESS.  59 

board  a  small  schooner,  a  prize  to  the  same  pri- 
vateer, and  which  they  were  taking  round  to 
have  her  trial  likewise,  having  the  said  priva- 
teer in  company  with  us.  The  next  morning 
after  we  sailed  we  saw  a  sail  which  was  sup- 
posed to  be  a  French  privateer;  accordingly, 
we  made  the  best  of  our  way  back  to  Port  An- 
tonia.  The  privateer  and  our  schooner,  being 
ahead  of  us,  fell  in  with  her,  and  finding  her  to 
be  an  English  vessel,  therefore  made  the  best 
of  their  way  to  Kingston.  I  remained  at  Port 
Antonia  until  the  twenty-eighth,  and  an  oppor- 
tunity then  offering  for  Kingston,  I  embraced 
it,  and  arrived  at  that  port  September  1st.  The 
same  evening,  being  taken  with  a  relapse,  I 
went  on  shore,  where  I  remained  extremely 
low  five  or  six  days,  after  which  time  the  fever 
abated,  and  I  recovered  appetite  and  strength. 
"In  the  mean  time  the  schooner  was  dis- 
charged, and  such  part  of  the  cargo  as  appeared 
to  belong  to  the  passengers  was  condemned, 
and  we  were  permitted  to  take  the  rest  on  board 
and  proceed  home.  By  the  nineteenth  of  Sep- 
tember I  had  so  far  recovered  as  to  be  able  to 
go  on  board  again,  and  on  the  twenty-first  we 
dropped  down  to  Port  Royal,  leaving  our  pas- 
sengers behind  at  their  desire,  and  on  the  twen- 
ty-third we  sailed  for  New  York.  The  day 


60  CAPTAIN    OBADIAH    CONGAR. 

before,  however,  I  was  taken  with  a  second  re- 
lapse ;  and  now,  being  out  of  the  reach  of  a 
physician  and  those  necessaries  requisite  in  such 
cases,  I  was  greatly  alarmed. 

"  Daily  growing  worse,  and  expecting  a  long 
passage,  knowing  we  had  to  go  through  the 
Gulf  of  Florida,  my  spirits  sank,  and  I  had 
nearly  given  up  all  hopes  of  seeing  my  native 
land  ever  again.  But,  blessed  be  God  !  it  was 
determined  otherwise.  I  continued  extremely 
low  until  we  had  nearly  reached  the  coast,  in- 
somuch that  sometimes  the  captain  despaired 
of  my  life ;  but,  on  approaching  the  land,  and 
getting  the  weather  a  little  cool,  my  appetite 
came  again,  and  I  once  more  began  to  mend." 

Narrowly  escaping  shipwreck,  they  reached 
port  on  the  twenty-eighth  of  October.  Through- 
out that  fall  and  the  ensuing  winter,  up  to  the 
spring  of  1794,  he  was  subject  to  relapses  of 
fever,  which  entirely  laid  him  by,  and  did  much 
to  mpair  his  constitution,  but  much  also,  in  the 
discipline  of  God's  wise  providence,  to  repair 
and  renovate  his  soul.  He  found,  as  many  have, 
like  David,  that  it  was  good  for  him  to  be  af- 
flicted, that  he  might  keep  God's  law.  Ill 
health  went  far  to  soften  and  subdue  him,  and 
make  him  put  a  true  estimate  upon  sublunary 
things.  It  was  a  necessary  part  of  the  treat- 


THE    DISCIPLINE    OF    AFFLICTION.  61 

ment  he  was  undergoing  by  an  all-wise  Physi- 
cian for  the  restoring  of  health  to  his  soul.  We 
think  we  see  evidence  that  its  effect  upon  him 
was  that  always  meant  and  often  realized  by 
such  schooling. 

The  heart  that  God  breaks  with  affliction's  stroke, 
Oft,  like  the  flower  when  stricken  by  the  storm, 
Rises  from  earth,  more  steadfastly  to  turn 
Itself  to  heaven,  whither,  as  a  guide, 
Kindly,  though  stern,  AFFLICTION  still  is  leading, 
Even  to  the  home  of  endless  joy  and  peace. 
There,  on  the  borders  of  that  better  land, 
Shall  Pain's  sharp  ministry  forever  cease. 
Then  shall  we  bless  Thee,  safely  landed  there, 
And  know  above  how  good  thy  teachings  were ; 
Then  feel  thy  keenest  strokes  to  as  in  love  were  given, 
Thnt  hearts  most  crushed  on  earth  shall  most  rejoice  in  heaven. 

By  June  of  1794  the  health  of  our  mariner 
was  so  far  restored  that  he  was  able  to  under- 
take a  voyage  to  the  island  of  Curaqoa  as  chief 
mate  of  the  brig  Iphigenia ;  and  in  August  of 
the  same  year  we  find  him  in  command  of  the 
brig  William  for  the  same  island,  on  the  pas- 
sage to  which  he  was  boarded  successively  by 
Spanish,  French,  and  English  privateers,  but 
suffered  to  proceed. 

Early  in  1795  he  is  at  Kingston,  Jamaica, 
where  he  was  again  exposed  to  the  yellow  fe- 
ver, and  lost  by  it  his  chief  mate  and  one  of  his 
men,  all  being  more  or  less  sick.  He  describes 


62         CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

in  the  following  manner,  from  eye-witness,  the 
funeral  ceremonies  performed  by  the  blacks  in 
the  island  of  Jamaica  :  "  As  soon  as  any  person 
is  dead,  the  connexions  and  acquaintance  gath- 
er around  the  corpse,  and  begin  to  sing  and 
dance,  and  play  upon  the  banjo  and  other  kinds 
of  music  as  simple.  When  evening  comes 
on,  they  gather  in  greater  numbers,  insomuch 
that  their  noise  may  be  heard  a  mile.  They 
continue  in  this  manner  until  daylight,  when 
they  depart  every  one  to  his  house.  In  the 
afternoon  they  assemble  again,  bring  the  corpse 
out  into  the  yard,  and,  if  it  is  a  person  of  dis- 
tinction among  them,  the  coffin  is  very  neatly 
painted  and  costlily  furnished.  Then  they  com- 
mence dancing,  singing,  and  playing  upon  their 
musical  instruments  again,  which  they  continue 
until  near  evening.  When  the  corpse  is  taken 
up  to  be  carried  to  the  place  of  interment,  two 
or  three  of  the  most  distinguished  among  them 
are  ornamented  with  ribbons  in  their  hats,  and, 
carrying  colors,  follow  the  corpse.  The  rest — 
men,  women,  and  children — bring  up  the  rear, 
with  singing,  dancing,  and  music  as  before. 
Thus  they  proceed  until  the  person  is  interred, 
when  each  one  returns  to  his  place.  I  have 
been  informed  they  have  an  idea  that  the  soul 
of  the  deceased  returns  to  its  native  country 


COMMANDS    A    SHIP    FOR    FRANCE.  63 

(Guinea),  and  that  music,  dancing,  &c.,  ren- 
ders the  soul  more  happy  until  it  reaches  its 
home." 

Saved  again  from  a  grave  in  the  West  In- 
dies, and  narrowly  escaping  shipwreck  on  the 
Double-headed-shot  Keys,  Captain  Congar  re- 
turns to  New  York,  and  is  immediately  put  in 
command  of  the  new  ship  Alexander  Hamilton, 
bound  to  the  port  of  Nantes,  France.  On  this 
European  passage  his  human  sensibilities  as  a 
benevolent  and  careful  captain  were  greatly  af- 
fected by  losing  overboard  one  of  his  sailors 
from  the  main  yard.  The  voyage  was  success- 
ful, and  he  proceeded  from  Nantes  to  the  Downs 
and  London,  and  thence  to  St.  Ubes,  Portugal, 
for  a  cargo  of  salt.  Dismasted,  on  the  way 
back  to  New  York,  in  a  furious  squall,  their 
course  was  delayed ;  and  they  fell  out  of  pro- 
visions, but  were  providentially  supplied  by 
another  vessel  fallen  in  with. 

Soon  after  arriving  at  New  York,  he  entered 
the  marriage  state,  in  January,  1796,  with  Miss 
P.  V.  Riper,  of  Newark,  being  himself  in  the 
twenty-eighth  year  of  his  age.  Almost  imme- 
diately after  he  sailed  for  Ireland  and  St.  Ubes, 
and  on  his  return  was  at  once  off  again  to  Liv- 
erpool, taking  his  employer  and  family  as  pas- 
sengers. The  fourth  day  out,  his  employer 


64  CAPTAIN    OBADIAH    CONGAR. 

died,  and  soon  after  a  friend  who  had  accom- 
panied him,  leaving  his  widow  to  the  sympathy 
and  care  of  Captain  Congar,  who  himself  fell 
ill  with  the  same  distemper  that  had  carried 
off  his  passengers.  He  gratefully  notices  the 
sovereign  mercy  of  God  in  his  recovery,  and  in 
an  opportunity  afforded  him  in  a  succeeding 
voyage  to  save  the  crew  of  a  leaky  ship,  at  a 
great  risk  to  his  own. 

Through  perils  in  port  and  sea,  by  privateers- 
men  and  men-of-war,  from  terrific  gales  and 
prospect  of  foundering  in  a  leaky  ship,  which 
he  with  difficulty  kept  his  men  from  abandon- 
ing, we  track  his  course  through  the  pages  of 
his  journal  up  to  1798.  It  is  always  the  course 
of  a  humane,  upright,  liberal,  and  conscientious 
American  sea  captain,  yet  without  the  peace 
of  God,  which  passeth  all  understanding,  keep- 
ing his  heart  and  mind  in  Christ  Jesus,  and. 
consequently,  not  happy.  On  the  ninth  of  May, 
1798,  he  enters  that  his  mind  had  been  consid- 
erably exercised  upon  religion  on  the  late  pas- 
sage to  Madeira,  in  the  ship  Ceres. 

"  Having  with  me  Hopkins's  System  of  Di- 
vinity, I  read  it  with  great  attention,  my  mind 
being  particularly  affected  with  that  part  which 
treats  of  the  sins  of  all  mankind  being  made 
manifest  or  revealed  at  the  judgment.  Know- 


READING    THEOLOGY     AT    SI. A.  65 

ing  my  sins  to  be  of  a  crimson  dye,  I  trembled 
at  the  thought  of  having  them  made  known  to 
the  world  ;  and,  as  I  had  often  done  in  difficult 
circumstances  before,  so  now  I  resolved  to  live 
more  in  the  fear  of  God,  and  with  a  view  to  the 
judgment  of  the  great  day." 

Severe  trials  now  befell  him  in  a  course  of 
disasters  on  ship-board,  and  the  sickness  of  his 
wife,  and  his  arrival  at  New  York  at  the  height 
of  the  prevalence  of  yellow  fever  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1798,  when  seventy-two  were  falling 
victims  to  it  in  one  day.  "  Death."  he  says, 
"seemed  to  brandish  his  scythe  as  though  he 
were  commissioned  to  cut  down  all.  This  pas- 
sage in  the  Lamentations  appeared  to  be  veri- 
fied in  a  particular  manner :  '  How  doth  the 
city  sit  solitary  that  was  full  of  people !'  Sol- 
itary indeed !  I  have  passed  through  a  whole 
street,  and  scarcely  observed  a  soul  moving. 

"  On  one  of  these  days  of  pestilence  we  cast 
off  from  the  wharf.  The  wind  being  very  light, 
our  boy,  who  was  about  twelve  years  of  age, 
was  sent  up  to  clear  away  the  main  top-gallant 
royal,  but,  on  what  account  we  never  could 
learn,  he  had  scarcely  reached  the  top-gallant 
yard  when  he  fell.  Hearing  something  shock 
the  deck,  I  cast  my  eyes  around,  and  saw  the 
boy  lying  on  the  companion  way,  flat  on  bin  face, 
E 


CAPTAIN     OBAUIAH    COXGAR. 


and  motionless.  We  took  him  up,  supposing 
him  to  be  dead,  but  he  soon  began  to  cry.  We 
then  rubbed  him  all  over  with  camphor  and 
spirits,  and  put  him  in  a  warm  bed,  and  in  less 
than  a  week  he  was  able  to  walk  considerably, 
and  in  a  week  more  returned  to  his  duty  again. 
Had  I  not  been  eye-witness  to  these  facts,  I 
could  not  have  believed  it  possible  for  any  per- 
son to  have  survived  such  a  fall." 

This  was  the  first  of  a  train  of  difficulties 
that  ran  through  this  voyage.  The  first  day 
out  for  Liverpool,  yellow  fever  appeared  on 
board,  to  their  great  dismay.  Another  of  their 
most  able-bodied  seamen  was  thrown  oft' duty 
by  a  severe  fall,  and  fatal  shipwreck  was  bare- 
ly avoided  on  Sable  Island.  On  the  return,  the 
journal  says,  "  I  believe  it  will  not  be  far  from 
the  truth  if  I  say  we  lay  to  almost  every  other 
day  all  the  month  of  January;  and  about  ten 
days  before  we  arrived,  as  we  were  hove  to,  a 
heavy  sea  came  on  board,  which  knocked  the 
long  boat  out  of  the  chocks,  washed  away  the 
booby-hatch,  a  great  quantity  of  water  going 
down  in  the  steerage,  stove  in  the  quarter-boards, 
washed  the  binnacle  overboard,  and  set  us  all 
afloat  in  the  cabin.  This  happened  while  we 
were  at  supper,  so  that  it  made  a  clean  sweep 
of  every  thing  on  the  table.  Fortunately,  there 


A    TRAIN     OF    DISASTERS    ON    SHIPBOARD.       67 

was  but  one  man  on  deck,  and  he  had  notice 
of  it  time  enough  to  secure  himself. 

"  February  22d,  1799,  we  made  Sandy  Hook, 
but  it  coming  on  to  blow  very  hard  from  the 
northwest,  we  were  under  the  necessity  of  let- 
ting go  our  anchors  to  prevent  being  blown  off, 
though  we  were  twelve  miles  from  the  land, 
and,  consequently,  pretty  rough  swell.  Our 
anchors  had  not  been  down  more  than  an  hour 
when  the  small  bower  cable  parted,  and  the 
other  being  insufficient  to  hold  her,  she  contin- 
ued to  drag  all  night,  so  that  in  the  morning 
we  could  scarcely  see  the  Highlands  of  Never- 
sink. 

"  The  sea  having  broke  over  us  fore  and  aft 
in  the  night,  which  froze  instantly,  our  vessel 
appeared  one  solid  body  of  ice  from  the  stem  to 
stern-post.  At  eleven  o'clock  next  day,  the 
weather  moderating,  we  went  to  work  clearing 
the  ice  off  the  decks,  and  hove  up  the  anchor, 
but,  to  our  mortification,  there  was  little  more 
than  the  stock  left.  The  wind  being  from  the 
westward,  we  could  not  get  up  to  the  Hook  un- 
til the  twenty-fourth.  This  night  the  cold  was 
terrible ;  we  could  not  come  to  anchor,  for  we 
had  none,  therefore  were  obliged  to  carry  sail 
all  night,  in  order  to  keep  in  with  the  land,  and 
we  barely  escaped  freezing.  Next  day  we  for- 


68  CAPTAIN    OBADIAH    CONGAR. 

tunately  reached  the  city,  through  very  much 
ice  running  in  the  channel.  Thus  ended  a  voy- 
age begun  with  trouble  and  finished  with  hard- 
ships." 

These  extreme  hardships  had  well-nigh  driv- 
en Captain  Congar  from  the  sea.  But,  like  the 
innately  industrious  every  where,  he  found  it 
harder  to  bear  a  want  of  employment  than  to 
brave  the  battle  and  the  breeze ;  and,  after  four 
months  of  tedious  shore  life,  we  find  him  in  an 
armed  merchant  ship,  sailing  in  company  with 
a  fleet  of  others  to  the  West  Indies,  for  protec- 
tion against  pirates  and  privateers.  In  this 
voyage,  only  six  of  the  forty  that  made  up  the 
complement  of  his  ship,  besides  himself,  escaped 
the  West  India  fever ;  and  eight  of  the  number 
they  buried  on  the  island  of  St.  Domingo. 

The  nineteenth  century  opened  with  a  voy- 
age to  Bristol,  England,  in  command  of  the  ship 
Penelope ;  and  it  is  at  the  close  of  this  that  we 
find  the  first  satisfactory  indications  of  the  life 
of  nature  slain,  and  the  life  of  God  beginning 
in  the  soul  of  the  mariner  whose  experience  we 
trace.  In  another  chapter  we  will  pursue  and 
develop  those  indications. 


WHEN  I  review  my  ways, 
I  dread  impending  doom ; 


BEGINNING  OP  THE  LIFE  OF  GOD   IN  THE  SOUL.    69 

Bat  sure,  a  friendly  whisper  says. 
"  Flee  from  the  wrath  to  come." 
I  see,  or  think  1  see, 

A  GLIMMERING  PROM  AFAR! 

A  beam  of  day  that  shines  for  mo, 

To  save  me  from  despair. 
Forerunner  of  the  sun, 

It  marks  the  pilgrim's  way ; 
I'll  gaze  upon  it  while  I  ran, 

And  watch  the  rising  day. 


70  CAPTAIN    OBAD1AH    CONGAR. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

RELIGIOUS   EXPERIENCE,  PROFESSION,  TEMPTATIONS, 
AND    ESCAPE. 

When  I,  in  my  distress,  my  anchor  Hope  can  cast 
Within  the  promises,  it  holds  my  vessel  fast : 

Safely  she  then  at  anchor  rides, 

Mid  stormy  blasts  and  swelling  tides. 

If  a  dead  calm  ensues,  and  Heaven  no  breezes  give, 
The  oar  of  prayer  I  use,  I  tug,  and  toil,  and  strive : 

Through  storms  and  calms  for  many  a  day, 

I  make  but  very  little  way. 

But  when  a  heavenly  breeze  springs  up  and  fills  my  sail, 
My  vessel  goes  with  ease  before  the  pleasant  gale ; 

It  runs  as  much  an  hour,  or  more, 

As  in  a  month  or  two  before. 

The  Heavenly  Mariner. 

WE  are  now  entering  the  most  remarkable 
period  in  Captain  Congar's  history — the  period 
within  which  he  solemnly  consecrated  himself 
to  the  service  of  his  Maker,  and  entered  into 
covenant  relations  with  the  visible  church.  In 
the  month  of  June,  1800,  he  makes  this  entry 
in  his  journal :  "  Perhaps  there  have  been  few 
instances  of  a  life  spent  like  mine.  Those  re- 
ligious impressions  made  on  my  mind,  through 
the  unwearied  instruction  and  solicitude  of  a 


RESOLVES    TO    BE    A    CHRISTIAN.  71 

tender  parent,  could  not  easily  be  erased ;  so 
that,  although  convictions  have  been  stifled  and 
serious  reflection  banished  at  times  when  I  have 
given  myself  up  to  abandoned  wickedness,  yet, 
when  some  afflictive  providence  has  befallen  me, 
or  some  threatening  of  God's  wrath  has  been 
ready,  as  it  were,  to  be  executed  on  me,  then  I 
have  thought  upon  my  ways ;  so  that  by  turns 
I  have  been  the  subject  of  great  convictions, 
and  then,  again,  would  fall  into  the  most  aban- 
doned licentiousness  and  profaneness. 

"  The  difficulties  experienced  on  the  outward- 
bound  passage  of  the  last  voyage  seemed  once 
more  to  rouse  me  up,  and  compel  me,  like  the 
affrighted  mariners  of  Tarshish,  to  call  upon 
my  God.  Methought  I  took  greater  delight  in 
reading  the  Scriptures  than  ever  I  had  done  be- 
fore, many  passages  of  which  seemed  to  strike 
my  mind  with  great  force,  and  I  wondered  that 
I  should  have  misimproved  so  great  a  boon  as 
the  Bible  so  long.  I  now  once  more  formed 
resolutions  to  amend  my  ways,  and  not  only 
lead  a  moral  life,  but,  through  the  assistance  of 
God's  grace,  to  become  a  Christian.  I  felt,  in 
a  measure,  my  own  weakness,  and  endeavored 
to  look  for  strength  from  above ;  and  when  I  ar- 
rived in  Bristol,  I  attended  public  worship  more 
constantly  than  had  usually  been  the  case  before. 


72  CAPTAIN    OBADIAH    CONGAR. 

In  the  course  of  this  voyage  T  often  reflected 
upon  the  propriety  of  performing  family  wor- 
ship when  at  home,  and  frequently  resolved  to 
make  the  attempt  if  I  should  be  spared  to  re- 
turn. But,  alas !  here  I  failed  again.  Surely 
I  did  not  see  the  worthiness  in  Jehovah  to  be 
adored  by  all  his  intelligent  creatures,  or  I 
would  not  have  withheld  the  praises  due  unto 
his  name. 

"  Nevertheless,  before  I  went  to  sea  again,  I 
acquainted  my  wife  that  it  was  my  wish  to  join 
in  prayer  with  her  morning  and  evening,  which 
she  acquiesced  in,  and  for  the  first  time  I  made 
the  attempt.  Soon  after  we  sailed  on  another 
voyage  to  Bristol,  through  the  course  of  which 
my  mind  was  generally  exercised,  more  or  less, 
on  the  importance  of  religion,  and  particularly 
on  the  subject  of  family  worship  at  home,  which 
practice,  through  divine  assistance,  I  was  ena- 
bled to  pursue  when  restored  to  them  again. 
How  far  I  was  sincere  in  my  devotions  the 
Searcher  of  hearts  knows  best,  but  I  have  rea- 
son to  conclude  it  was  more  the  force  of  educa- 
tion than  a  real  desire  to  glorify  God.  Be  this 
as  it  may,  I  certainly  was  very  ignorant  of  the 
nature  of  true  religion." 

From  this  time  we  find  him  more  and  more 
sensitive  to  sin.  and  also  to  the  goodness  of  God, 


EXPERIENCE  OF   THE   CHRISTIAN    WARFARE.    73 

in  his  deliverance  from  a  certain  imminent  dan- 
ger. But  he  was  plunging  deep  into  the  war- 
fare described  in  the  seventh  chapter  of  Ro- 
mans ;  and  his  experience  now  was  that  narra- 
ted with  so  much  simplicity  in  the  old  "  Dia- 
logue between  a  Believer  and  his  Soul." 

Oh  !  I  sink  beneath  the  load  of  my  natureV  evil ; 
Full  of  enmity  to  God,  captived  by  the  devil : 
Restless  as  the  troubled  seas ;  feeble,  faint,  and  fearful ; 
Plagued  with  every  sore  disease,  how  can  I  be  cheerful  T 

"  Think  on  what  thy  Savior  bore  in  the  gloomy  garden. 
Sweating  blood  at  every  pore,  to  procure  thy  pardon : 
See  him  stretch'd  upon  the  wood,  bleeding,  grieving,  crying  ; 
Suffering  all  the  wrath  of  God,  groaning,  gasping,  dying." 

This  by  faith  I  sometimes  view,  and  those  views  relieve  me ; 
Bnt  my  sins  return  anew ;  these  are  they  that  grieve  me. 
Oh !  I'm  leprous,  filthy,  foul— quite  throughout  infected : 
Have  not  I,  if  any  soul,  cause  to  be  dejected  T 

"  Pore  not  on  thyself  too  long,  lest  it  sink  thee  lower; 
Look  to  Jesus,  kind  as  strong,  mercy  join'd  with  power. 
Every  work  that  thou  must  do,  will  thy  gracious  Savior 
For  thee  work,  and  M  thee  too,  of  his  special  favor." 

Jesus'  precious  blood  once  spilt,  I  depend  on  solely, 
To  relieve  and  clear  my  guilt,  but  I  would  be  holy. 
"  He  that  bought  thee  on  the  cross  can  control  thy  nature, 
Fully  purge  away  thy  dross,  make  thee  a  new  creature." 

That  he  can  I  nothing  doubt,  be  it  bat  his  pleasure. 
"  Though  it  be  not  done  throughout,  may  it  not  in  measure  7" 
When  that  measure,  far  from  great,  still  shall  seem  decreas- 
ing— 
"  Faint  not  then,  but  pray  and  wait,  never,  never  ceasing.'' 


74  CAPTAIN    OBAD1AH    CON'GAR. 

While  in  the  experience  of  this  conflict,  Cap- 
tain Congar's  ship  was  again  ordered  to  Ireland 
with  a  cargo  of  flaxseed,  one  of  his  owners  being 
on  board  as  a  passenger.  On  their  arrival  they 
found  that  great  numbers  of  the  inhabitants 
were  about  leaving  their  native  soil  for  the 
United  States,  and  that  some  ships  were  al- 
ready preparing  to  receive  them.  The  pros- 
pect of  gain,  therefore,  induced  the  owner  to 
put  up  the  newly-arrived  American  ship  for 
passengers.  As  soon  as  the  cargo  was  dis- 
charged, says  the  journal,  we  went  to  work  put- 
ting up  berths  and  building  houses  on  deck  for 
them.  In  the  mean  time,  I  was  employed  en- 
gaging them  and  receiving  passage  -  money, 
which  was  at  the  rate  of  four  guineas  and  a 
half  for  every  full  passenger. 

"  About  the  middle  of  April,  having  about 
three  hundred  engaged  in  all,  including  men, 
women,  and  children,  we  began  to  receive  them 
on  board.  But  such  was  the  rage  of  this  peo- 
ple for  going  to  America,  about  eighty  more 
made  their  appearance,  so  that  at  last  I  was 
much  at  a  loss  where  to  put  them,  and  even 
then  others  came  and  begged  for  a  passage,  and 
would  hardly  take  no  for  an  answer.  When 
they  were  all  on  board,  our  ship  presented  a  lit- 
tle town,  for  we  had  no  less  than  six  houses  on 


TKI.U.3    WITH     I..MK.ISAXT    PASSENGERS.  75 

the  quarter-deck-  that  would  hold  about  six  or 
eight,  and  two  on  the  main  deck,  each  of  which 
held  eighteen ;  and,  besides,  we  built  a  shed 
over  the  long-boat,  where  six  or  eight  more  took 
up  their  residence.  Thus  we  set  sail  the  twen- 
ty-eighth day  of  April,  and  on  the  second  of 
May  took  our  departure  from  Cape  Clear.  By 
this  time  many  of  them  were  very  sea-sick,  and 
would  gladly  have  been  on  the  turf  again.  But, 
alas !  many  of  them  were  never  to  see  it  more. 
"  Unhappily  for  us,  we  had  not  been  at  sea 
many  days  before  some  of  them  were  taken  sick 
with  a  fever,  and  some  with  the  dysentery,  and 
though  not  many  of  them  died  while  we  were  at 
sea,  to  such  a  degree  had  these  disorders  in- 
creased among  them,  that  not  less  than  eighty 
were  sick  when  we  arrived,  several  of  whom 
lived  but  a  short  time  after.  Among  the  rest, 
I  had  a  touch  of  the  fever  a  few  days  before 
we  made  the  land,  but  was  so  far  recovered  as 
to  be  able  to  attend  to  business  when  we  got 
into  port.  Providentially,  we  had  a  favorable 
passage,  or  it  would  most  likely  have  gone  very 
ill  with  us  indeed.  We  came  to  anchor  at 
Staten  Island  in  forty-two  days,  having  buried 
at  sea  six  adults  and  seventeen  children;  and, 
from  what  I  could  learn,  about  one  hundred  in 
all  died  before  they  left  the  quarantine  ground. 


76  CAPTAIN    OBADIAH    CONGAR. 

One  successful  voyage  after  this  to  Madeira, 
and  the  sea  life  of  Captain  Congar  is  suspended 
for  a  few  years,  during  which  he  assayed  the 
business  of  a  dry  goods  merchant  at  Newark. 
About  this  time  we  find  the  following  entry : 
"  Since  my  arrival  from  Madeira,  my  mind  has 
been  more  engaged  about  religion  than  usual, 
which  some  of  my  friends  observing,  hinted  to 
me,  one  evening,  as  we  were  walking  to  church, 
that  the  present  would  be  a  favorable  opportu- 
nity of  offering  myself  as  a  member,  inasmuch 
as  the  Session  were  about  to  meet  shortly  for 
the  purpose  of  examining  such  as  came  forward 
to  join.  This  hint  started  me  like  one  awaked 
out  of  sleep,  and  before  I  could  make  an  an- 
swer, drew  the  conclusion  that  I  was  not  fit ; 
for,  though  I  had  thought  some  time  past  of  of- 
fering myself  as  one  desirous  to  join  the  Church, 
yet  I  had  not  brought  the  time  so  near.  From 
this  forward  my  thoughts  have  been  more  en- 
gaged about  my  situation,  and  have  besought 
the  Lord  more  earnestly  that  he  would  direct 
me  to  do  that  which  should  be  most  for  his 
glory. 

"  When  searching  more  attentively  into  my 
own  heart,  I  found  it  exceeding  hard  and  vile. 
Some  persons,  I  found,  could  melt  into  tears 
when  the  idea  of  a  crucified  Savior  was  held  up 


HAPPY    RKLIOIOl  rf     EXERCISES.  77 

to  view,  and  in  my  youthful  days  methinks  I 
have  felt  something  like  this  too,  moving  my 
passions  when  this  subject  has  been  preached. 
But  now  it  was  quite  otherwise;  my  heart 
seemed  harder  than  adamant,  and  sometimes  I 
was  tempted  to  conclude  the  Lord  had  left  me 
to  a  state  of  impenitency  and  hardness  of  heart ; 
and  that,  although  there  never  appeared  a  more 
seasonable  time  to  embrace  religion,  now  I  could 
not  find  it  in  my  mind  to  do  it,  for  my  external 
performances  did  not  satisfy  me.  I  had  done 
all  that  was  required.  I  now  cast  myself  upon 
the  mercy  of  a  gracious  God,  imploring  his  for- 
giveness, and  that  he  would  soften  my  hard 
heart,  and  lead  me  to  sincere  repentance  and 
faith  in  Christ ;  and  to  ray  exceeding  great  com- 
fort, surely  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  hear  my  re- 
quest. Early  on  Sunday  morning,  the  third  of 
January,  1802,  my  mind  was  more  than  usually 
impressed  with  the  importance  of  having  an  in- 
terest in  the  Redeemer's  blood  ;  and,  feeling  my 
helpless  condition,  I  was  led  to  seek  God  with 
my  whole  soul,  that  he  would  pardon  my  many 
transgressions,  and  heal  a  polluted  mind,  and 
teach  me  the  way  of  life.  Such  were  my  ex- 
ercises, that  I  rose  to  prayer  before  day,  and 
then  went  down  stairs  to  make  a  fire.  While 
employed  in  this  office,  I  began  to  sing, 


78          CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

"  '  Comd  hither,  all  ye  weary  souls.' 

"  At  this  time  my  soul  seemed  overcome 
with  a  sense  of  my  great  unworthiness,  and  of 
the  adorable  perfections  of  Jehovah.  These 
wrought  upon  my  mind  so  that  I  burst  into 
tears.  I  again  went  on  my  knees,  imploring 
the  Divine  direction  that  I  might  not  be  deceiv- 
ed, and  that  I  might  be  preserved  from  offend- 
ing God  any  more,  desiring  these  impressions 
might  be  lasting.  This  was  a  pleasant  Sab- 
bath to  me.  If  I  be  not  deceived,  I  could  truly 
say,  One  day  in  the  courts  of  the  Lord  are  bet- 
ter than  a  thousand  elsewhere.  My  mind  seem- 
ed to  soar  above  the  things  of  time  and  sense, 
and  held  converse  with  Heaven. 

"  I  now  formed  resolutions  to  forsake  every 
sin  and  follow  God's  commands.  My  mind  has 
been  composed,  by  turns,  concerning  my  spir- 
itual state,  and  by  turns  I  have  felt  hardened, 
and  sometimes  indifferent,  and  at  other  times 
see  so  much  vileness  in  myself  that  I  can  not 
help  forming  a  conclusion  that  I  am  yet  in  the 
gall  of  bitterness  and  bond  of  iniquity ;  and  then, 
like  St.  Paul,  I  find  a  law  in  my  members  war- 
ring against  the  law  in  my  mind,  and  bringing 
me  into  captivity  to  the  law  of  sin  which  is  in 
my  members. 

"  This  evening,  being  at  a  conference  meet- 


THE  DL.AUE,  THE  EAR,  FULL  CORN  IN  THE  EAR.  79 

ing,  I  was  called  upon  to  pray,  which,  for  the 
first  time  in  public,  I  attempted,  according  to 
the  best  of  my  ability,  but  not  without  a  sense 
of  my  great  unworthiness  and  insufficiency. 
Shortly  after,  I  lost  sight,  more  or  less,  of  that 
glorious  character  which  had  but  a  little  before 
filled  my  mind  with  delight,  so  that  when  I  at- 
tended meeting  the  Thursday  following,  I  found 
very  b'ttle  comfort,  and  rather  felt,  as  it  were, 
condemned,  and  without  hope.  I  was  full  of 
fear  lest  my  ingratitude  had  provoked  a  just 
God  to  cast  me  oft'.  These  struggles  in  my 
mind  broke  me  of  my  rest.  The  next  day  it 
pleased  a  merciful  and  all-wise  Sovereign  to 
give  me  such  views  of  himself,  that  I  felt  will- 
ing to  be  in  his  hands,  esteeming  myself  un- 
worthy of  the  least  mercy,  and  earnestly  en- 
treating that  I  might  not  be  left  to  unbelief  and 
hardness  of  heart,  and  that  I  might  be  enabled 
to  lead  such  a  life  before  him  as  would  be  ac- 
ceptable through  Jesus,  the  dear  Redeemer. 

"  From  this  time  onward  till  Wednesday,  the 
twenty-seventh  of  January,  1802,  I  frequently 
had  views  of  myself  as  a  great  sinner  for  neg- 
lecting so  many  precious  calls  and  warnings, 
and  misimproving  so  much  precious  time.  At 
other  times  the  character  of  God  through  Jesus 
Christ  appeared  so  desirable,  that  my  soul  chose 


80         CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

this  God  for  my  portion  and  hope,  and  methinks 
I  find  a  greater  pleasure  in  approaching  the 
throne  of  grace  than  I  have  usually  experi- 
enced. At  this  time  I  called  to  see  one  of  the 
elders,  to  whom  I  related  my  exercises,  and  who 
told  me  he  thought  it  would  be  proper  for  me 
to  come  forward  on  the  next  occasion  and  make 
a  public  profession  of  religion. 

"  Although  my  mind  had  been  much  exer- 
cised on  this  matter  of  late,  yet  I  was  not  fully 
resolved  what  to  do.  I  did  not  seem  to  fear  the 
revilings  of  men  so  much  as  my  own  insincer- 
ity. Though  it  appeared  the  duty  of  every  in- 
telligent creature  to  love  God  with  all  his  mind 
and  strength,  and  the  plan  of  salvation  by  Jesus 
Christ  seemed  reasonable,  and  fit,  and  worthy 
to  be  embraced  by  every  son  of  Adam,  yet  I 
felt  a  great  backwardness  lest  I  should  be  de- 
ceiving myself  and  act  the  part  of  a  hypocrite. 
Two  days  from  this  time  I  called  to  see  Doctor 
M'Whorter,  to  whom  I  related  my  experience, 
and  who  seemed  satisfied  with  the  account  I 
gave  of  myself.  On  Friday,  the  eleventh  of  Feb- 
ruary, in  company  with  five  or  six  others,  I  met 
the  Session  of  the  Newark  Presbyterian  Church, 
who  heard  our  different  relations,  and  we  were 
dismissed.  The  Sunday  following  one  of  the 
elders  called  to  inform  me  that,  if  it  were  my 


COVENANT    VOWS    ASSUMED.  81 

wish,  I  should  be  propounded  the  same  day,  it 
appearing  proper  to  them  that  the  others  should 
wait  till  next  opportunity.  This  Sabbath,  if  I 
be  not  deceived,  I  experienced  some  tokens  of 
the  Divine  favor  which  strengthened  me  great- 
ly in  the  cause  I  had  embraced.  But  oh  !  the 
warfare  within!  How  must  we  fight  if  we 
would  come  off  conquerors ! 

u  Sunday,  February  28th,  I  was  taken  into 
the  Church  according  to  the  customary  regula- 
tions of  the  same,  and  methought  the  Lord  ap- 
peared very  gracious  in  strengthening  and  sup- 
porting me  in  so  solemn  a  transaction ;  and  I 
trust  I  felt  rejoiced  that  I  had  been  granted  this 
opportunity  of  acknowledging  my  Lord  and  my 
Redeemer  in  this  public  manner.  The  Sabbath 
following,  the  sacrament  was  administered,  and 
though  I  did  not  experience  the  Divine  presence 
as  some  have  done  on  these  occasions,  yet  it 
was  a  profitable  season.  The  wonderful  con- 
descension  of  Jehovah  seemed  very  great  in  thus 
dealing  with  his  sinful  creatures. 

"  And  now  it  was  reasonable  to  expect  that 
I  should  be  more  engaged  to  serve  my  Lord  and 
Master  than  heretofore ;  but,  alas !  my  foolish 
heart  soon  began  to  wander  from  my  God,  and 
a  sort  of  lethargy  or  spiritual  deadness  seemed 
to  accompany  all  my  acts  of  devotion,  insomuch 
F 


82          CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

that  I  could  not  avoid  drawing  unfavorable  con- 
clusions respecting  myself.  My  heart  seemed 
hard  and  my  mind  deeply  blinded ;  but  I  was 
not  suffered  to  remain  in  this  state  long  with- 
out a  chastising.  Sabbath,  March  14th,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Kollock  preached  in  Newark  from 
these  words  of  our  Savior  to  Peter,  '  Lovest 
thou  me  ?'  While  the  preacher  was  setting 
forth  the  character  of  those  who  loved  Christ 
in  sincerity,  my  mind  was  deeply  affected,  and 
I  feared  very  much  I  never  had  experienced 
what  it  was  to  love  God  and  Christ  with  pure 
and  holy  motives ;  and,  if  so,  I  was  yet  in  my 
sins,  and  without  hope. 

"  These  thoughts  overpowered  me  to  that  de- 
gree that  my  nerves  became  exceedingly  agita- 
ted and  weak,  so  that  it  was  with  great  diffi- 
culty I  supported  myself  from  falling. 

"  The  only  comfort  that  I  could  derive  from 
past  experiences  was  founded  on  my  affection 
for  the  people  of  God.  Finding  myself  quite 
feeble,  and  my  mind  deeply  exercised,  I  did  not 
go  to  church  in  the  after  part  of  the  day,  but 
implored  the  Divine  presence  and  aid  that  I 
might  not  be  left  to  perish  in  my  sins,  and  that 
I  might  be  enabled  to  love  Christ  Jesus  with 
right  views  and  motives,  and  be  more  engaged 
in  following  his  commands.  Doubts  and  fears, 


INSTRUCTIVE    AND    HOPEFUL    RECORDS.  83 

with  some  faint  rays  of  hope,  prevailed  by  turns, 
and  sometimes  the  adversary  seemed  to  almost 
get  the  advantage.  But,  blessed  be  the  Father 
of  mercies !  about  the  first  of  June  he  was 
pleased  to  manifest  himself  to  me  (if  I  be  not 
deceived)  as  lovely  in  all  his  character  and  gov- 
ernment, and  I  rejoiced  to  have  found  him  once 
more  whom  my  soul  loveth. 

"  Saturday  evening,  June  18th,  being  at  a 
conference  meeting,  methinks  I  was  greatly  af- 
fected with  the  situation  of  a  guilty  world,  and 
my  heart's  desire  seemed  to  be  that  God  would 
more  abundantly  pour  out  his  Spirit,  that  care- 
less sinners  might  be  awakened,  and  see  their 
need  of  a  Savior,  and  that  religion  might  in- 
crease and  prevail  over  vice  and  infidelity.  The 
day  following,  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per was  administered,  and  there  were  thirty  and 
one  new  members  admitted  to  the  communion. 
The  scene  was  delightful  to  the  friends  of  relig- 
ion, and,  if  not  deceived,  my  soul  rejoiced  in 
the  event.  Methought  how  lovely  is  this  place. 
'  I  had  rather  be  a  door-keeper  in  the  house  of 
my  God,  than  to  dwell  in  the  tents  of  wicked- 
ness.' 

"  My  prayer  is,  that  I  may  have  a  humbling 
sense  of  my  own  unworthiness,  and  that  I  may 
live  to  the  praise  of  my  God  and  Redeemer  all 


64  CAPTAIN    OBADIAH    CONGAE. 

the  days  of  my  appointed  time.  Through  the 
grace  of  God  I  am  resolved  to  strive  to  this  end. 
But,  alas !  what  reason  have  I  to  lament  my 
inconsistency.  Not  more  than  one  fortnight 
had  passed  around  when  I  began  to  fall  into  a 
lukewarmness,  and  a  sort  of  spiritual  sloth 
seemed  to  hang  about  every  thing  I  engaged  in. 
This  dullness  was  followed  by  a  disrelish  for 
religious  duties,  and  a  sort  of  dread  at  meeting 
any  of  the  principal  members  of  the  Church. 
On  this  account,  or  lest  I  should  be  called  upon 
to  pray  or  converse,  I  frequently  neglected  at- 
tending the  evening  societies ;  and  with  trem- 
bling I  entered  the  courts  of  the  Lord,  for  fear 
something  might  be  spoken  that  would  put  me 
into  confusion.  And  so  far  was  I  from  exercis- 
ing a  spirit  of  meekness  and  forbearance,  that, 
manifesting  an  unchristian  temper  one  day,  1 
was  reproached  with  these  words,  '  Ah  !  where 
is  all  your  boasted  religion  now  ?'  Instead  of 
being  humbled  under  a  sense  of  the  dishonor  1 
had  brought  upon  the  cause  of  Christ,  I  was 
highly  offended  at  the  person  who  made  the 
expression.  Forgive,  O  my  God !  what  I  thus 
confess  with  shame  and  confusion  of  face." 


Hid  by  the  clouds  from  sight,  no  sun  did  now  appear. 
Nor  could  I  in  the  night  behold  thr  moon  or  star: 


LEAVING    THE    FIRST    LOVE.  85 

Twa»  then  for  days  and  weeks,  or  more, 
I  could  not  aee  the  sky  or  shore. 

The  old  elementary  leaven  of  a  certain  natu- 
ral instability  of  character,  now  breaking  out  in 
Captain  Congar,  along  with  this  departure  from 
his  first  love,  and  merchandising  having  become 
tiresome  as  well  as  unprofitable,  he  sold  the 
goods  that  remained  on  hand,  and  with  the 
proceeds  thereof  embarked  on  a  sort  of  trading 
expedition  to  Charleston,  New  Providence,  and 
the  Bahamas.  In  this  he  had  but  indifferent 
success,  and  returned  safely,  though  ill  at  ease 
in  his  mind,  to  New  York.  And  here  he  enters 
in  his  journal,  "  Now  did  it  become  me  to  have 
embra«ed  the  first  opportunity  of  meeting  with 
my  friends  in  Newark,  and  offering  up  public 
thanksgiving  to  my  Almighty  preserver,  who 
had  blessed  me  with  a  great  share  of  health, 
and  restored  me  to  my  native  country  once 
more.  Had  my  heart  been  right,  I  should  have 
rejoiced  that  God  was  pleased  to  favor  me  with 
such  an  opportunity  to  declare  his  goodness,  and 
his  wonderful  works  to  the  children  of  men. 
But,  alas !  my  conscience  testified  against  me 
that  I  had  departed  from  God  ;  and  on  this  ac- 
count I  felt  such  a  backwardness  of  appearing 
among  my  Christian  friends,  that  I  took  care 
not  to  be  there  on  the  Sabbath  day,  but  went 


88  CAPTAIN'    OBADIAH    CONOAR. 

to  church  in  New  York,  and  experienced  very 
little  satisfaction  or  comfort  therein. 

"  Thus  about  a  month  elapsed,  when  a  cir- 
cumstance happened  that  brought  strong  con- 
viction to  my  mind  that  God  was  now  about  to 
chastise  me  for  backsliding.  As  I  was  sitting 
at  the  breakfast  table  on  the  ninth  of  May,  one 
of  the  company  related  a  story  which  in  some 
measure  touched  hard  upon  myself.  I  was  im- 
mediately seized  with  a  kind  of  tremor,  and  had 
to  hurry  from  the  table  in  confusion,  endeavor- 
ing at  the  same  time  to  conceal  it  as  much  as 
possible.  From  this  time,  let  me  go  where  I 
would,  or  in  what  company,  I  felt  guilty,  and 
my  sins  stared  me  in  the  face,  so  that  I  found 
no  rest.  Sometimes  I  resolved  to  flee  away 
where  nobody  knew  me,  and  at  other  times  I 
despaired  of  finding  peace  on  earth,  and  was 
tempted  to  drown  myself.  Thus  was  I  harassed, 
continually  beset  with  temptations  and  fears, 
till,  on  Saturday,  May  21st,  I  went  over  to 
Newark,  hoping  I  might  find  some  relief  to  my 
mind  ;  but  ah  !  my  sins  followed  me  close. 
God  had  not  done  chastising  me  yet  for  depart- 
ing from  him. 

"  My  wife  and  friends  could  not  conceive 
what  ailed  me,  neither  was  I  able  fully  to  con- 
vince them.  I  now  began  to  give  up  all  my 


BOHE    CONFLICTS     AND    TEMPTATIONS.  87 

hopes,  and  was  bordering  on  despair.  At  this 
time  I  was  strongly  tempted  to  starve  myself, 
from  an  apprehension  that  all  these  troubles 
were  sent  upon  me  for  an  over-fondness  of  in- 
dulging my  appetite,  and,  dreading  every  thing 
here,  I  sometimes  wished  to  die. 

"  Sunday  being  come,  I  knew  it  was  my 
duty  to  go  to  church,  but  I  was  filled  with 
such  confusion  and  dread  of  appearing  among 
my  friends,  or  any  body  who  knew  me,  that  I 
had  not  resolution.  Oh,  the  horrors  of  a  guilty 
conscience !  Though  a  return  to  God,  by  a 
deep  and  hearty  repentance,  was  the  only  ra- 
tional way  I  could  hope  for  any  comfort,  yet  I 
was  so  far  from  this,  that  I  seemed  determined 
on  obstinacy  and  rebellion.  I  could  not  endure 
to  see  any  of  my  acquaintance  even  at  home, 
and  I  shunned  the  society  of  every  body.  My 
distress,  indeed,  compelled  me  to  call  on  Rev. 
Mr.  G.,  one  of  our  ministers,  and  upon  some  of 
the  elders,  to  whom  I  made  known  my  difficul- 
ties. They  all  seemed  to  feel  for  me,  and  ex- 
horted me  to  trust  in  God,  through  Christ; 
and  told  me  it  was  no  uncommon  thing  for  the 
people  of  God  to  be  exercised  in  this  way  more 
or  less. 

"  I  now  began  to  consider  myself  as  a  vile 
hypocrite,  and  looked  upon  it  as  only  adding 


88  CAPTAIN  UBAUIAH  CONGAR. 

sin  to  my  guilt  to  pray  in  my  family,  or  perform 
those  external  duties  incumbent  on  professors 
of  religion,  and,  for  one  time,  I  neglected  pray- 
er with  this  view.  It  is  not  easy  to  describe 
my  feelings  at  this  time.  Astonishment  took 
hold  of  me,  and  I  was  ready  to  cry  out  with 
the  Psalmist,  '  My  confusion  is  continually  be- 
fore me,  and  the  shame  of  my  face  hath  cov- 
ered me.'  It  often  appeared  as  though  my  dis- 
tress was,  in  a  measure,  such  as  the  damned 
will  experience,  so  far  as  it  consists  in  a  sense 
of  their  sins  being  known  to  the  world ;  for  it 
seemed  as  though  every  body  knew  all  my 
crimes,  and  judged  me. 

"  Thus  I  spent  another  week  in  this  melan- 
choly, dejected  manner,  and,  Saturday  evening 
being  come,  I  summoned  up  resolution  enough 
to  attend  society  ;  but,  looking  upon  myself  as 
an  outcast,  and  having  forfeited  all  the  bless- 
ings of  social  worship,  I  returned  as  I  went, 
without  consolation .  Sabbath  following  I  found 
myself  still  in  the  same  difficulty  as  before,  and 
could  not  form  resolution  to  go  to  church,  though 
being  earnestly  entreated  by  my  wife  for  that 
purpose.  In  the  evening,  however,  I  attended 
a  society,  but  without  any  relief  to  my  troubled 
mind.  Some  of  my  friends  told  me  that  these 
things  did  not  shake  their  hope  for  me  as  being 


MENTAL  ANGUISH  LAID  BARE.        89 

a  Christian.  But,  for  ray  part,  I  could  see  ev- 
f>ry  thing  else  in  myself  but  the  character  of 
such  a  one. 

"  Though  I  had  little  heart  to  pray,  or  desire 
others  to  pray  for  me,  yet  now  I  could  not  think 
of  giving  it  wholly  up.  Ingratitude  seemed  a 
monstrous  sin  in  me.  Tuesday,  thirty-first  of 
May,  and  the  day  following,  I  felt  myself  some- 
what composed,  and  desired  this  trial  might  be 
sanctified  to  me :  could  read  the  Scriptures  with 
some  degree  of  pleasure,  and  endeavored  to 
form  resolutions,  through  Divine  assistance,  to 
seek  the  will  of  God,  though  he  should  still  see 
fit  to  hide  his  face  from  me :  striving  to  place 
my  dependence  on  the  merits  of»Christ  alone 
for  hope  of  acceptance,  and  renouncing  my  own 
works,  which  seemed,  indeed,  but  as  poor  filthy 
rags.  Friday,  June  3d,  being  preparatory  lec- 
ture, I  was  enabled  to  attend  public  worship, 
but,  alas !  the  coldness  and  hardness  of  my  heart, 
and  how  insensible  to  the  Divine  character  and 
perfections.  Such  a  stupor  had  seized  my  soul, 
methinks  I  received  little  benefit  from  this  op- 
portunity. I  did,  indeed,  form  resolutions  to 
prepare  for  the  duties  of  the  following  Sabbath, 
and,  the  day  being  come,  with  fear  and  trem- 
bling I  entered  the  courts  of  the  Lord.  At  first 
I  was  greatly  confused,  and  had  nearly  sunk 


90  CAPTAIN   OBAD1AH  CONGAR. 

down  ;  but,  endeavoring  to  look  for  support 
from  above,  I  seemed  to  be  strengthened,  and 
remained  tolerably  composed  the  rest  of  service 
time,  and  joined  once  more  with  the  people  of 
God  in  commemorating  the  dying  love  of  a 
Savior,  though  not  without  doubts  and  fears. 
And,  in  proportion  as  they  have  the  ascendency, 
so  the  delight  in  the  ordinance  must  be  propor- 
tionably  less. 

"And  now,  my  soul,  what  hast  thou  done? 
Thou  hast  once  more  engaged  to  be  the  Lord's  ; 
not  living  to  thyself,  but  unto  him  that  died  to 
save  such  an  unworthy  sinner.  What  grati- 
tude dost  thou  not  owe  to  thy  Creator  and  Re- 
deemer !  Thou  didst  seek  death  and  destruc- 
tion, and  yet  he  has  brought  thee  to  his  ban- 
queting-house  ;  see  to  it,  then,  that  thou  dost 
perform  unto  the  Lord  thine  oaths.  Oh  Lord, 
help  me  to  perform.  But,  alas !  my  goodness 
was  like  the  morning  cloud  or  early  dew,  that 
vanisheth  away ;  my  resolution  failed  me,  and 
melancholy  returned,  so  that  the  next  Sabbath 
found  me  in  as  great  dejection  and  distress  as 
ever  before.  And  now  every  ray  of  hope  seemed 
to  be  departing  from  me,  and  I  began  to  con- 
clude that  I  need  not  look  for  any  peace  or  com- 
fort here,  and  that  the  only  remedy  would  be 
to  wander  away  from  all  society,  and  take  up 


A    FUGITIVE    FROM    HOME    AND    HAPPINESS.     91 

ray  abode  in  some  solitary  clime  among  the 
savages,  or  others  as  ignorant  as  they. 

"  These  reflections  pierced  me  to  the  heart  and 
brought  many  a  sorrowful  tear  from  my  eye. 
What,  said  I,  must  I  part  with  wife  and  friends, 
and  never  more  behold  them  on  this  side  the 
grave !  how  can  I  bear  the  thought  ?  Some- 
times, indeed,  this  little  hope  seemed  left,  that 
perhaps  traveling  would  be  the  means  of  re- 
lieving my  mind,  so  that  I  might  once  more 
take  a  little  comfort  on  earth. 

"  I  now  gave  my  wife  to  understand  that  I  in- 
tended going  up  the  North  River,  first  to  a  broth- 
er's I  had  living  near  Albany.  To  this  at  length 
she  very  reluctantly  consented,  and  packed  up 
some  things  for  me  ;  and  on  the  fourteenth 
of  June  I  left  Newark  with  heavy  heart ;  for 
though  I  gave  her  only  to  understand  that  my 
object  in  leaving  home  was  merely  to  relieve 
my  mind,  which  was  true  in  some  measure,  yet 
nevertheless,  harboring  an  idea  that  I  should 
never  more  enjoy  my  friends  at  home,  or  take 
comfort  again  in  my  native  place,  I  had  secret- 
ly determined  never  more  to  return. 

"With  this  view,  when  I  got  to  New  York 
I  sold  all  my  nautical  books  and  instruments, 
giving  up  every  thought  of  going  to  sea  more ; 
and  not  knowing  whither  I  should  go  or  how  I 


92         CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

should  get  a  maintenance,  I  thought  it  advisa- 
ble to  take  all  the  money  I  could  conveniently 
get  hold  of,  in  case  of  the  worst.  I  arrived  at 
Albany  in  three  days,  and  went  at  once  to  my 
brother's,  who,  with  his  family,  received  me  glad- 
ly. But,  as  I  had  anticipated  before,  my  mind 
was  far  from  being  calm  and  quiet.  Though 
relieved,  in  a  measure,  from  that  embarrass- 
ment which  I  found  at  home,  yet  I  became 
very  melancholy  and  dejected,  apprehending 
the  judgments  of  God  would  pursue  me  wher- 
ever I  went. 

"  I  did  not  acquaint  my  brother  with  my 
real  motive  in  leaving  Newark,  but  rather  hint- 
ed that  it  was  on  account  of  my  temporal  diffi- 
culties, and  from  a  determination  to  quit  the  sea, 
and  that,  if  I  should  undertake  some  laborious 
occupation  for  a  maintenance,  being  so  near  the 
sea  as  Newark,  I  should  be  the  more  likely  to 
give  it  up  again,  and  betake  myself  to  my  for- 
mer profession,  for  which  I  had  conceived  a 
great  distaste. 

"  Before  I  left  home,  the  thought  had  struck 
my  mind,  that  as  my  brother  understood  the 
cut-nail  business,  probably  we  might  undertake 
it  with  some  advantage  to  us  both.  And  now 
it  appeared  the  only  thing  I  could  engage  in 
that  would  suit  the  state  of  my  health,  both  of 


EXPEDIENTS    TO    GAIN    RELIEF.  93 

body  and  mind,  and  be  the  means  of  procuring 
a  support.  This  thought  I  soon  made  known 
to  my  brother,  who,  although  he  said  it  would 
be  a  great  mortification  to  see  me  engaged  in 
so  low  a  calling,  yet,  if  it  was  my  sincere  wish, 
he  had  no  objections  to  join  me  in  the  business, 
not  doubting  but  that  we  might  make  it  an- 
swer a  tolerable  purpose. 

"  I  now  called  forth  all  the  powers  of  body 
and  mind,  went  to  work  early  and  late,  and 
made  rapid  progress  in  the  knowledge  of  this 
new  art,  so  that  in  two  or  three  weeks  I  could 
make  as  handsome  a  nail  as  others  who  had  fol- 
lowed it  a  much  longer  time. 

"  Although  I  attended  public  worship  con- 
stantly at  Troy,  and  evening  conferences  where 
my  brother  lived,  yet  I  was  often,  on  these  oc- 
casions, much  confused  and  distressed,  so  that  it 
frequently  appeared  to  me  I  must  fly  again, 
and  whither  I  knew  not.  These  reflections 
wrung  me  to  the  very  heart,  and  I  endeavored 
to  look  up  to  God  that  he  would  pass  by  my 
many  transgressions,  and  bring  about  means 
that  I  might  be  restored  to  my  family  and 
friends  again,  but  fearing  this  was  never  to  be 
my  lot  more." 

I  thought  the  brnte  creation  were  better  off  than  me  ; 
I  spent  my  days  in  anguish,  no  pleasure  could  I  tee : 


94  CAPTAIN    OBADIAH    CONGAR. 

Through  deep  distress  and  sorrow  my  Savior  led  me  on, 
Then  show'd  his  love  unto  me  when  all  my  hope  was  gone. 

While  suffering  these  sore  temptations,  and 
in  this  strangely  unnatural  state  both  of  body 
and  mind,  Captain  Congar  endeavored  to  per- 
suade his  wife  to  dispose  of  their  property  at 
Newark,  and  come  and  take  up  her  abode  with 
him.  She  at  once  yielded  to  his  desire  that  she 
would  visit  him,  but  her  entreaties,  and  a  bet- 
ter judgment,  perhaps,  in  this  matter,  persuaded 
him  to  abandon  a  line  of  life  for  which  he  was 
all  unfit,  and  to  consent  to  return  to  Newark. 
But  apprehensive,  he  says,  that  I  should  labor 
under  the  same  difficulties  when  I  got  among 
my  friends  that  I  had  experienced  before,  I  ob- 
tained a  promise  from  my  wife  that,  should  this 
be  the  case,  she  would  accompany  me  some- 
where to  a  more  southerly  climate.  But,  alas 
for  him, 

In  vain  the  unhappy  rover  flies, 
In  hopes  of  finding  happier  skies ; 
In  vain  he  changes  clime  and  air, 
For  still  unhappy  self  is  there. 

"  The  unhappy  state  of  my  mind  led  me  to 
grasp  at  any  thing  that  would  promise  relief. 
In  the  fore  part  of  August  I  made  my  appear- 
ance in  Newark,  but  very  little  better  composed 
than  when  I  left  it  last,  and,  if  possible,  more 


STILL    IN    DARKNESS    AND    THE    DEEP.  95 


regardless  of  the  ties  of  friendship  and  every  so- 
cial relation.  I  seemed  now  to  myself  to  have 
lost  all  good- will  and  affection  for  every  one 
here,  even  those  to  whom  I  had  been  strongly 
attached.  I  took  no  delight  in  religion  nor  so- 
ciety, and  thus  passed  my  time  like  some  sol- 
itary being  who  is  displeased  with  himself  and 
all  around  him ;  who,  though  surrounded  with 
the  good  things  of  life,  enjoys  nothing,  and  is 
only  happy  when  sleep  drowns  the  anxiety  of  a 
disturbed  mind. 

"  In  this  condition  the  soul  finds  little  peace; 
sometimes  under  the  most  dreadful  apprehen- 
sions about  futurity,  and  then  only  concerned 
for  the  present ;  often  wishing  for  death,  yet 
afraid  to  die.  At  one  time  I  acknowledged  the 
justness  of  my  punishment,  and  at  other  times 
was  tempted  to  fret  and  complain  because  I 
was  thus  dealt  with,  continually  resolving  and 
unresolving,  a  compound  medley  of  unruly  pas- 
sions. For  the  first  three  or  four  days  after  my 
return  I  was  pretty  generally  fixed  on  setting 
off  again,  dreading  the  Sabbath  should  come, 
being  apprehensive  I  should  not  be  composed 
enough  to  go  to  church ;  and  so  it  happened, 
for  I  could  not  form  resolution  to  make  the  at- 
tempt. I  still  continued  sad  and  solitary,  and 
though  I  felt,  that  help  must  come  from  God 


96         CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONUAR. 

alone,  yet  had  I  very  little  heart  to  pray.     The 
denunciation  in  the  prophet  Isaiah  seemed  very 
applicable  to  my  case  :  '  And  the  pride  of  Is- 
rael testifieth  to  his  face  ;  and  they  do  not  re- 
turn to  the  Lord  their  God,  nor  seek  him  for 
all  this.     Ephraim  also  is  like  a  silly  dove  with- 
out heart ;  they  call  to  Egypt,  they  go  to  As- 
syria.    When  they  shall  go,  I  will  spread  my 
net  upon  them ;  I  will  bring  them  down  as  the 
fowls  of  heaven  ;  I  will  chastise  them,  as  their 
congregation  hath  heard.     Wo  unto  them,  for 
they  have  fled  from  me ;  destruction  unto  them, 
because  they  have  transgressed  against  me  ; 
though  I  have  redeemed  them,  yet  they  have 
spoken  lies  against  me.     And  they  have  not 
cried  unto  me  with  their  heart  when  they  howl- 
ed upon  themselves.     Though  I  have  bound  and 
strengthened  their  arms,  yet  do  they  imagine 
mischief  against  me.     They  return,  but  not  to 
the  Most  High ;  they  are  like  a  deceitful  bow.' 
"  Toward  the  latter  part  of  the  week  the  Lord 
was  pleased  to  remove  his  stroke  from  me  in 
some  measure ;  I  began  to  feel  somewhat  cheer- 
ful, and  could  go  among  my  friends  without  ex- 
periencing such  confusion.     Nevertheless,  it  re- 
mained a  matter  of  doubt  with  me  whether  I 
should  feel  composed  enough  to  attend  public 
worship  the  ensuing  Sabbath. 


TRANQUILLITY    BEGINS    TO    BE    RESTORED.     97 

"  On  Saturday  evening,  the  thirteenth  of 
August,  my  brother's  wife  had  been  to  pay  us 
a  visit,  and,  with  true  Christian  charity,  re- 
proved me  pretty  sharply  for  the  neglect  of  so 
important  a  duty.  I  did  not  feel  in  the  least 
offended  at  her  for  this,  but  soon  began  to  make 
up  my  mind  to  go  to  church  next  day,  endeav- 
oring to  look  to  the  Lord  for  assistance.  Bless- 
ed be  his  name,  I  was  enabled  to  wait  upon 
him  in  his  house,  and  my  mind  was  generally 
composed  through  the  day ;  I  esteemed  this  an 
unmerited  favor,  and  desired  to  be  truly  thank- 
ful. Finding  a  degree  of  tranquillity  restored 
to  my  mind,  my  thoughts  of  leaving  home  again, 
on  this  occasion,  have  vanished,  and,  through 
the  whole  week,  have  been  more  composed  than 
has  been  the  case  for  some  time.  But  I  still 
experience  a  great  dullness  in  religious  duties, 
and  little  pleasure  in  the  company  of  Chris- 
tians. 

"  Saturday  evening,  the  twentieth  of  August, 
I  attended  a  conference  meeting,  rejoicing  once 
more  that  I  had  an  opportunity  of  joining  with 
the  people  of  God  in  religious  exercises,  and 
grateful  for  this  instance  of  Divine  compassion 
and  forbearance,  resolving  now  to  return  to  him 
from  whom  I  had  deeply  revolted.  Sabbath 
following  I  went  to  the  house  of  God  with  eon- 


98  CAPTAIN   OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

siderable  satisfaction,  and  pretty  well  composed, 
but  without  those  consolations  of  the  Holy  Spir- 
it which  are  so  reviving  to  a  soul  in  distress. 
Still  I  endeavor  to  wait  upon  God  and  hope  in 
his  word,  confessing  my  unworthiness  to  receive 
any  mercy.  The  next  Friday  a  lecture  was 
delivered,  preparatory  to  the  sacrament,  from 
these  words  :  '  Looking  diligently,  lest  any  man 
fail  of  the  grace  of  God.' 

"  The  Sabbath  following  I  joined  once  more 
with  the  people  of  God  in  commemorating  the 
dying  love  of  a  Savior.  One  great  end  brought 
to  view  by  this  ordinance  seemed  to  be  the  ne- 
cessity of  living  on  Christ  by  faith,  as  the  body 
is  nourished  by  bread  and  wine.  From  this 
time  my  mind  became  more  composed,  and  I 
no  longer  thought  of  leaving  Newark  again,  as 
on  a  late  occasion,  but  endeavored  to  commend 
myself  to  the  Lord,  and  wait  his  will  with  re- 
spect to  temporal  as  well  as  spiritual  concerns." 

And  now  the  cloud  is  lifted,  and  light  is 
once  more  breaking  upon  the  tried  and  tempted 
Christian  mariner,  faith  and  submission  hav- 
ing been  inwrought  into  his  soul  by  the  disci- 
pline of  a  gracious  Providence.  This  ever  is 
the  way  of  God  with  the  soul  of  man.  He 
bends  the  human  will  into  sweet  acquiescence 
with  His  own  will  by  trials  and  mortifications, 


GODS    WAY    AND   GOD'S    END.  09 

and,  that  secured,  then  there  can  be  permanent 
joy  and  peace. 

The  path  «f  Borrow,  and  that  path  alone, 
Leads  to  the  land  where  sorrow  is  unknown. 

Sorrowing  and  troubled  reader,  whosoe'er  thou 
art,  cast  down,  perhaps,  and  almost  despairing, 
only  sweetly  yield  thy  will  to  God's,  and  then 
thou  shalt  cheer  up  and  take  courage. 


In  the  day  of  visitation, 

When  the  clouds  have  o'er  thee  passed, 
And  thou  thinkest  that  salvation 

May  not  bless  thee  at  the  last ; 
In  the  hour  of  doubts  and  fearing, 

When  the  Savior  seems  afar, 
And  thy  spirit,  without  cheering, 

Is  the  night  without  a  star — 
Know  that  it  is  all  to  try  thee, 

And  that  Jesus  loves  thee  still ; 
Nor  will  ever  He  deny  thee, 

If  thou  walked  IN  His  WILL. 

He  hath  set  the  great  example, 

Follow  on,  as  he  hath  trod ; 
Doubts  and  sin  beneath  thee  trample, 

Live,  and  act,  and  hope  in  God. 
Then,  though  light  or  dark  attend  thee, 

In  the  end  'twill  be  the  same ; 
If  the  Savior  doth  befriend  thee, 

Thou  shalt  ne'er  be  put  to  shame. 


100  CAPTAIN    OBADIAIi    CONGAR. 


CHAPTER    V. 

NAVIGATING    FOR    ETERNITY.       THE    LIGHTS    AND 
SHADOWS    OF    THE    CHRISTIAN    LIFE. 

THOU  Star  of  the  Christian  !  thou  Guide  of  the  lost ! 

Oh,  withhold  not  the  beams  that  can  lead  and  can  gladden 
Frail  man  on  the  ocean  of  life  when  he's  toss'd ; 

When  the  billows  run  high,  and  the  wild  tempests  madden. 
Blest  Savior !  once  more  be  the  light  of  my  soul ; 

And,  amid  all  the  dangers  and  griefs  that  oppress  me, 
This  heart  shall  submit  to  thy  faultless  control, 

The  song  of  these  lips  shall  unceasingly  bless  thee. 

T.  C.  UPHAM. 

UPON  the  mountain  wave  we  mount  again 
with  our  mariner,  whom  a  call,  deemed  by  him 
providential,  induces  to  make  his  home  once 
more  on  the  deep.  Having  command  of  the 
ship  Enterprise,  and  taking  with  him  his  wife, 
he  sailed  for  Cork,  Ireland,  on  the  twenty-eighth 
of  August,  1803.  The  voyage  seems  to  have 
been  propitious,  and  its  issue  all  that  could  be 
desired,  his  own  health  and  spirits  being  better 
for  engaging  in  an  employment  to  which  he  had 
been  trained,  and  his  wife's  health  also  improv- 
ing. With  a  becoming  piety,  he  took  occasion 
of  the  first  Sabbath  after  his  return  to  offer  up 
public  thanksgiving  to  his  gracious  Preserver ; 


INCREASING    COMFORT    IN    RELIGION.         101 

and,  though  he  was  not  yet  entirely  free  from 
those  embarrassments  of  mind  that  had  before 
so  greatly  afflicted  him,  he  endeavored  to  look 
to  the  Most  High  for  support  and  submission. 

Early  in  1804  he  sailed  again  to  Wilming 
ton,  North  Carolina,  and  thence  to  Hull,  En 
gland,  where  he  notes  with  gratitude  that  hi 
had  frequent  opportunities  of  public  worship 
with  "  a  sacred  pleasure  therein."     An  offering 
of  thankfulness  was  duly  paid  in  the  Lord's 
house  on  his  return,  and  we  find  him  saying 
that  "  at  this  time  the  Lord  was  pleased  tt 
grant  me  those  consolations  of  his  blessed  Spirit, 
which  are  so  reviving  to  an  afflicted  soul.    Ev- 
ery time  I  met  in  public  worship  while  at  home, 
I  enjoyed  more  or  less  of  the  comforts  of  relig- 
ion, and  could  join  with  my  brethren  in  society 
with  considerable  freedom  and  delight." 

On  a  subsequent  voyage,  being  again  at  Wil- 
mington, on  his  way  to  Bristol,  and  without 
the  company  of  his  wife,  he  writes,  "  I  expe- 
rience the  want  of  society  much,  and  some- 
times, alas !  I  feel  very  low-spirited ;  but  God 
is  still  gracious.  I  enjoy  a  great  share  of  health, 
and  am  not  without  the  consolations  of  his 
Spirit,  I  would  hope.  True,  it  is  desirable  to 
have  always  the  assurance  of  blessedness  ;  but 
are  we  to  look  for  this  at  all  times?  It  is  a 


102        CAPTAIN  OB  ADI  AH  CONGAR. 

mercy  that  such  a  sinner  as  I  am  is  at  this 
moment  out  of  the  regions  of  woe.  May  my 
spared  life  be  spent  for  the  glory  of  God. 

"  Near  the  coast  of  Europe,  Sunday,  Janu- 
ary 27th,  1805.  This  day  my  soul  is  much 
cast  down.  I  view  myself  as  a  great  sinner. 
Oh,  how  vile  is  the  human  heart !  it  is  deceit- 
ful above  all  things.  How  exceeding  sinful 
does  sin  appear,  and  mine  in  a  particular  man- 
ner aggravated;  but,  though  my  sins  appear 
like  huge  mountains  over  my  head,  ready  to 
burst  forth  upon  me,  yet  I  would  look  to  God 
in  Christ  for  pardon  and  sanctification." 

The  grounding  of  his  ship  in  trying  to  go 
over  the  Swash  at  the  mouth  of  the  Avon,  made 
it  necessary  to  put  her  into  dock  for  repairs,  and 
this  delayed  his  return,  but  he  sought  and  found 
comfort  in  the  society  and  worship  of  God's 
people  while  in  port.  Finding,  after  getting 
out  to  sea,  that  one  of  his  passengers  was  a  min- 
ister, he  solicited  his  services  as  preacher  all 
the  Sabbaths  of  the  passage. 

The  following  summer  he  made  a  very  agree- 
able voyage  to  Madeira  with  his  wife  for  a  car- 
go of  wine,  in  the  course  of  which  he  had  many 
occasions  to  note  the  Providence  and  mercy 
of  God,  which  he  duly  remembered  in  public 
thanksgiving  on  his  return.  It  was  now,  how- 


RELIGIOUS    DISABILITIES -OP    A    LIFE    AT    SEA.    103 

ever,  that  the  natural  instability  of  character 
we  have  before  remarked  upon,  joined,  perhaps, 
with  a  diminution  of  bodily  vigor  as  he  ad- 
vanced in  life,  set  him  upon  thinking  again  to 
quit  the  sea ;  and  these  are  his  reasonings 
upon  it: 

"  It  is  a  life  fraught  with  difficulty  and  care, 
anxiety  and  perplexity.  We  frequently  ex- 
perience much  trouble  with  the  crew,  as  was 
the  case  the  last  two  voyages.  We  are  greatly 
exposed  to  temptation  ;  we  are  deprived  of  the 
principal  sources  of  happiness  in  this  life,  so- 
ciety,  and  the  opportunity  of  meeting  with  the 
people  of  God  on  Sabbath  days ;  and  those  who 
have  families,  with  whom  they  live  in  habits 
of  mutual  affection,  striving  which  can  be  most 
kind  and  tender,  and  whose  greatest  pleasure  is 
to  make  each  other  happy,  must  necessarily 
feel  great  anxiety  at  parting  with  them,  and 
being  absent  so  long  a  time  without  an  oppor- 
tunity of  hearing  from  one  another.  At  one 
time  duty  bid  me  go;  at  another  time  the  same 
reason  influenced  me  to  stay  ;  so  that  we  were 
nearly  ready  for  sea  before  my  mind  became 
settled  which  way  to  act.  I  made  it  my  re- 
quest, in  all  my  supplications  to  the  throne  of 
grace,  that  I  might  be  directed  in  this  import- 
ant matter ;  and  I  desire  to  be  thankful  that 


104        CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

God  heard  me,  for  my  mind  became  calm  and 
settled,  and  it  appeared  clearly  my  duty  to  en- 
gage again  in  this  business ;  and  seeing  no  oth- 
er way  opened  whereby  I  might  be  useful  in 
life,  I  became  reconciled,  and  submitted  to  the 
pain  of  leaving  my  bosom  friends,  and,  I  may 
add,  almost  every  thing  that  renders  life  pleas- 
ant, to  seek  my  bread  upon  the  great  waters. 

"  And  now  I  pray  God  that  I  may  go  in  his 
name  and  in  his  strength  to  the  work  that  is 
before  me,  that  he  would  enable  me  to  fulfill 
every  duty  incumbent  on  me  in  the  sphere 
wherein  I  am  placed  ;  'that  he  would  grant  me 
his  blessing  and  presence,  and  restore  me  to  my 
family  and  friends  in  his  own  good  time,  richly 
laden  with  experience  of  his  goodness  and  lov- 
ing-kindness. 

"  In  setting  out  on  this  voyage,  several  dis- 
couraging circumstances  took  place,  which  were 
by  no  means  calculated  to  compose  the  mind  at 
a  time  like  this.  Monday,  January  13th,  1806, 
we  hauled  the  ship  off  into  the  river,  that  we 
might  be  in  the  more  readiness  to  proceed  with 
the  first  wind.  The  day  following,  a  snow  and 
hail  storm  came  on  from  the  northeast:  where- 
fore we  thought  it  advisable  to  haul  the  ship 
into  the  wharf  again.  It  being  extremely  cold, 
with  difficulty  we  got  her  secured  before  night, 


DISCOURAGEMENTS    HOW    RELIEVED.          105 

leaving  two  anchors  off  in  the  river.  Wednes- 
day, 15th,  the  wind  was  favorable,  but,  blowing 
a  gale,  this  day  we  spent  in  getting  our  anchors 
on  board  again. 

"  Thursday  the  weather  continued  intoler- 
ably cold,  insomuch  that  we  found  it  difficult 
to  loose  the  sails,  that  we  might  get  them  soft- 
ened a  little.  The  ice  now  began  to  make  fast. 
Friday,  the  17th,  the  weather  moderated,  and 
the  wind  continuing  favorable,  we  set  sail,  and 
had  a  very  good  time  down  to  the  Hook,  and 
getting  to  sea.  In  no  instance  that  I  recol- 
lect has  my  mind  been  more  tranquil  and  com- 
posed  at  the  time  of  leaving  my  native  shores ; 
but  this  desirable  peace  did  not  abide  with  me 
long  ere  I  had  to  feel  the  want  of  that  society  I 
had  left.  Now  I  became  dejected  and  discon- 
solate, and  sometimes  it  seemed  as  though  I 
should  not  be  able  to  bear  up  under  the  load  of 
melancholy. 

"  The  fifth  day  after  we  sailed  came  on  a 
tremendous  gale  of  wind  from  the  southeast,  at 
which  time  our  ship  began  to  leak  very  badly, 
and  the  steward,  being  taken  very  ill  of  a  pleu- 
risy at  the  same  time,  I  had  to  officiate  myself 
in  that  capacity.  Under  all  these  discourage- 
ments, I  endeavored  to  rest  my  hopes  on  the 
Rock  of  Ages ;  from  God  I  sought  relief,  and 


106       CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

with  gratitude  I  would  acknowledge  I  have 
found  relief.  January  28th,  29th,  and  30th. 
The  winds  are  adverse,  yet  my  mind  is  quite 
composed,  and  I  feel  willing  the  Lord  should  do 
what  seemeth  him  good,  and,  blessed  be  his 
name,  if  I  am  not  deceived,  I  do  enjoy  religion 
even  here. 

"  Saturday,  the  8th  day  of  February,  we  ex- 
perienced a  gale  of  wind  from  the  westward,  in 
the  course  of  which  we  were  struck  by  three 
very  violent  seas,  which  damaged  our  boat  over 
the  stern  considerably,  and  even  threatened  the 
safety  of  us  all.  I  arose,  and  called  upon  Him 
who  holdeth  the  winds  in  his  fists  and  the  wa- 
ters in  the  hollow  of  his  hand,  and  the  Lord 
was  pleased  to  hear  the  request  of  a  poor  sin- 
ful creature.  The  violence  of  the  winds  and 
seas  abated,  and  we  were  delivered  from  our 
fear. 

"  From  this  time  we  had  a  considerable  spell 
of  favorable  winds,  so  that  we  made  good  prog- 
ress on  our  way.  One  important  end  may  be 
answered  by  this  solitary  life  which  I  have  upon 
the  seas,  which  could  not  be  attained  so  well  in 
the  midst  of  society :  I  now  call  to  mind  the 
sins  of  my  whole  life,  and  reflect  upon  them 
with  repentance.  I  have  an  opportunity  to 
search  out  the  evil  nature  and  consequences  of 


REFLECTIONS  AND  CONCLUSIONS  AT  SEA.  107 

sin ;  this  leads  me  to  self-abhorrence  on  account 
thereof,  and  to  admire  the  wonderful  forbear- 
ance of  God  in  sparing  so  great  a  rebel.  In 
general,  my  mind  is  tolerably  well  reconciled 
to  my  situation,  except  on  Sabbath  days.  It  is 
then  that  my  soul  looks  to  the  land  of  inhabit- 
ants meeting  together  for  social  worship.  But 
why  should  I  complain  ?  Have  I  improved  the 
advantages  of  society,  and  the  many  opportuni- 
ties I  have  been  favored  with,  of  hearing  the 
Gospel  preached  ?  Alas !  no.  I  feel  unworthy 
of  any  of  the  comforts  of  life,  and  yet  I  daily  ex- 
perience many.  I  enjoy  a  great  share  of  health, 
and  have  the  continuation  of  my  rational  facul- 
ties, and  still  am  preserved  on  the  mighty  deep. 
Me  thinks  I  never  have  had  such  affecting  views 
of  the  evil  of  sin  as  I  have  had  at  sea,  particu- 
larly in  the  course  of  the  last  voyage  to  Bristol, 
and  also  for  a  few  days  past  It  seems  won- 
derful there  should  be  so  much  happiness  in  a 
world  so  full  of  it.  This  appears  to  be  the  pro- 
curing cause  of  all  the  evil  we  suffer  in  this  life, 
or  dread  in  that  which  is  to  come.  I  trust  I 
feel  grateful  to  the  blessed  Spirit  for  opening  my 
eyes  to  see  sin  to  be  so  exceeding  sinful,  and 
affording  me  any  hope  of  salvation  from  it  this 
day,  eighteenth  of  February." 

There  are  repeated  instances  in  this  part  of 


108        CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

Captain  Congar's  autobiography  of  his  resorting 
to  the  Bible  when  under  apprehension  of  losing 
his  ship  by  the  dangers  of  the  seas,  and  finding 
its  promises  to  afford  him  sweet  relief;  so  that 
he  could  say  from  his  own  personal  habit  as  a 
Christian  mariner, 

The  Bible  is  my  chart ;  by  it  the  seas  I  know ; 

I  can  not  with  it  part,  it  rocks  and  sands  doth  show : 

It  is  a  chart  and  compass  too, 

Whose  needle  points  forever  true. 

When  through  a  strait  I  go,  or  near  some  coast  am  drove, 
The  plummet  forth  I  throw,  and  thus  my  safety  prove ; 

My  conscience  is  the  line  which  I 

Fathom  the  depth  of  water  by. 

My  vessel  would  be  lost  in  spite  of  all  my  care, 
But  that  the  Holy  Ghost  himself  vouchsafes  to  steer ; 

And  I  through  all  my  voyages  will 

Depend  upon  my  Steersman's  skill. 

Once,  when  winds  used  to  become  contrary, 
he  bore  it  impatiently,  and  would  grumble ;  but 
now  he  could  cheerfully  submit,  and  behold  the 
faithfulness  of  God  in  all  his  dealings,  and  we 
hear  him  say,  "  In  some  good  measure  I  find 
myself  believing  that  God  is  infinitely  wise  and 
good  in  all  that  he  does,  and  therefore  worthy  to 
be  submitted  to  and  confided  in  under  all  the 
vicissitudes  of  life.  And  besides,  how  many 
instances  could  I  call  to  mind  wherein  I  have 
been  delivered  from  death  in  a  manner  miracu- 


HOLY    COMPLACENCY    IN    GOD.  109 

lous ;  and  I  am  now  experiencing  great  health 
and  innumerable  mercies.  Wherefore,  oh  my 
soul,  be  no  more  stiff-necked  and  rebellious,  but 
rather  seek  to  possess  the  temper  of  the  proph- 
et, who  says,  '  Though  the  fig-tree  shall  not 
blossom,  neither  shall  fruit  be  in  the  vine ;  the 
labor  of  the  olive  shall  fail,  and  the  fields  shall 
yield  no  meat ;  the  flocks  shall  be  cut  off  from 
the  fold,  and  there  shall  be  no  herd  in  the 
stalls,  yet  I  will  rejoice  in  the  Lord,  and  joy  in 
the  God  of  my  salvation.'  April  29th,  the 
wind  still  remains  unfavorable,  but,  if  I  am  not 
deceived,  I  feel  this  day  such  a  complacency  in 
the  Divine  character,  that  I  can  rejoice  in  some 
good  degree  with  the  prophet  above." 

Sunday,  May  17th,  1806,  on  the  passage 
back  to  Wilmington,  he  writes,  "  My  mind  for 
some  days  past  has  been  more  deeply  affect- 
ed with  my  spiritual  condition  than  usual.  I 
ponder  on  my  sins,  I  weigh  my  actions,  I  judge 
myself,  and  frequently  doubt  the  sincerity  of 
my  profession.  Although  my  sins  have  been 
of  a  crimson  dye  before  I  joined  the  Church, 
yet  my  greatest  doubts  arise  from  a  view  of  the 
inconsistency  of  my  conduct  and  temper  since 
that  event  took  place.  These  reflections  pierce 
my  soul  with  bitter  mourning  and  lamentations. 
Once  methinks  I  walked  in  the  light  of  God's 


110        CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

countenance,  could  call  the  Savior  mine,  but 
now  his  face  is  hid,  and  I  am  troubled ;  I  am 
bowed  down ;  my  sins  have  gone  over  mine  head 
as  a  heavy  burden ;  I  am  greatly  oppressed. 
Sin,  that  dreadful  enemy  of  the  soul,  hath  caused 
all  this." 

Come,  Holy  Ghost,  and  blow 
A  prosperous  gale  of  grace ; 
Waft  me  from  all  below, 

To  heaven,  my  destined  place ! 
Then  in  full  sail  my  port  I'll  find, 
And  leave  the  world  and  sin  behind. 

Rather  more  than  a  year  from  this  date,  after 
much  experience  of  danger  and  deliverance  in 
the  course  of  two  voyages  to  Liverpool,  we  find 
this  entry  on  the  twenty-sixth  of  June,  1807 : 
"  This  day  closes  the  thirty-ninth  year  of  my 
age.  Alas !  I  have  to  mourn  much  misspent 
time,  many  shortcomings,  and  little  progress 
in  the  Divine  life  ;  and,  notwithstanding  so 
many  imperfections,  and  so  prone  to  go  astray 
as  I  yet  remain,  the  Lord  has  been  gracious  to 
me  in  a  variety  of  instances  through  the  year 
past.  May  my  soul  be  filled  by  humble  grati- 
tude, and  may  I  be  enabled,  by  Divine  assist- 
ance, to  live  henceforth  through  the  rest  of  my 
days  more  becoming  one  who  has  professed  to 
be  a  follower  of  the  blessed  Redeemer." 


ADVANTAGES    OF   KEEPING    A   JOURNAL.      Ill 

Saved  by  grace,  I  live  to  tell 

What  the  love  of  Christ  baa  done 
He  redeem'd  my  soul  from  hell, 

Of  a  rebel  made  a  son : 
Oh,  I  tremble  still  to  think 

How  secure  I  lived  in  sin ; 
Sporting  on  destruction's  brink, 

Yet  preserved  from  falling  in. 
In  a  kind,  propitious  hour, 

To  my  heart  the  Savior  spoke ; 
Tonch'd  me  by  his  Spirit's  power, 

And  my  dangerous  slumber  broke : 
Then  I  saw  and  own'd  my  guilt ; 

Soon  my  gracious  Lord  replied, 
•  •  Fear  not,  I  my  blood  have  spilt, 

'Twas  for  such  as  thee  I  died." 

"  Methinks  it  would  be  well  for  every  person, 
if  possible,  to  keep  a  sort  of  journal  or  memo- 
randum of  the  most  material  occurrences  in  life. 
Though  many,  perhaps,  would  have  nothing  to 
notice  that  others  would  feel  interested  in,  yet 
surely  a  history  of  one's  own  life  ought  to  be  of 
the  most  consequence  to  us  above  all  others. 
We  take  great  pains  to  obtain  a  knowledge  of 
the  lives  and  characters  of  others,  and  this  may 
be  well ;  but  surely  we  ought  to  know  some- 
thing about  ourselves,  which  can  not  well  be 
done  if  we  neglect  to  notice  events  as  they  pass. 
Thus,  for  instance,  to-day  I  feel  considerably 
composed  and  cheerful,  and  am  enabled  to  re- 
joice in  that  good  Hand  which  hath  guided  me 


CAPTAIN    OBADIAH    CONGAR. 


through  so  many  difficult  scenes  ;  and  I  do  now 
purpose  to  live  while  I  be  spared  more  in  the 
exercise  of  a  gracious  temper  and  disposition, 
under  the  various  dispensations  I  may  be  called 
to  pass  through,  and  to  be  more  engaged  in  the 
great  concerns  of  eternity  ;  but,  behold,  to-mor- 
row's sun  finds  my  sins  continually  swell  before 
my  eyes  like  huge  mountains,  and  though  I 
deeply  lament  for  my  transgressions,  still  I  find 
my  soul  prone  to  wander  from  God.  This  gives 
me  disquietness,  oh  wretched  man  that  I  am  ! 
"  July  10th.  I  am  still  oppressed  by  the 
weight  of  my  sins  ;  more  and  more  do  I  seem 
convinced  of  the  iniquity  and  deceitfulness  of 
my  heart.  But,  under  these  melancholy  appre- 
hensions, the  Scriptures  afford  a  ray  of  hope. 
Therein  do  we  discover  that  God  is  merciful 
and  gracious.  He  says  to  the  humble  and  con- 
trite, '  Though  your  sins  be  as  scarlet,  they 
shall  be  white  as  snow  ;  though  they  be  red  like 
crimson,  they  shall  be  as  wool.'  Nevertheless, 
I  am  still  in  difficulty  lest  my  repentance  be 
only  legal,  and  arise  merely  from  a  dread  of  the 
misery  my  sins  have  brought  upon  me.  And, 
besides,  the  Scriptures  declare  that  only  he  that 
believes  in  Christ  shall  be  saved,  and  here  also 
I  want  evidence.  But  the  Scriptures  inform 
us  that  Christ  Jesus  came  into  the  world  to  save 


THE  CHRISTIAN'S  GROUNDS  FOR  REJOICING.  113 

the  chief  of  sinners,  and  such  am  I,  and  such 
as  I  need  salvation  most.  Therefore  there  is 
room  for  hope  that  his  grace  may  also  be  be- 
stowed on  me." 

Hi  lived  to  silence  all  my  fears, 

He  lives  to  stop  and  wipe  ny  tears ; 

He  lives  to  calm  my  troubled  heart, 

He  lives  all  blessings  to  impart. 

He  lives  and  grants  me  daily  breath, 

He  lives,  and  I  shall  conquer  death ; 

He  lives  my  mansion  to  prepare, 

He  lives  to  bring  me  safely  there. 

He  lives  my  kind,  my  heavenly  friend, 

He  lives  and  loves  me  to  the  end; 

He  lives,  and  while  he  lives,  I'll  sing, 

HE  LIVES  MT  PROPHET,  PRIEST,  ASD  KINO. 

A  month  or  two  after  this  outpouring  of  a 
gracious  soul,  we  find  him  again  sitting  apart 
like  a  dove,  and  mourning  over  his  corruptions. 
44  Every  day  methinks  I  behold  more  and  more 
vileness  in  my  heart,  which,  indeed,  as  the  Scrip- 
lures  express  it,  has  been  the  cage  of  every 
unclean  bird.  Could  I  but  trace  out  one  sin- 
gle good  action  that  had  proceeded  from  a  pure 
principle  of  love  to  God,  I  had  some  ground  of 
hope ;  not  that  I  should  merit  forgiveness  for 
s<uch  good  action,  but  only  as  an  evidence  there 
might  be  a  small  spark  of  grace  in  the  heart, 
notwithstanding  its  dreadful  corruption." 

On  his  return  from  sea  in*  the  fall  of  1807, 
H 


114        CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONOAR. 

and  offering  up  public  thanksgiving,  as  his  man- 
ner was,  to  Him  who  holdeth  the  winds  in  his 
fists  and  the  waters  in  the  hollow  of  his  hands, 
he  found  a  very  extraordinary  revival  of  religion 
had  begun  in  Newark  and  vicinity,  of  which  he 
thus  takes  notice :  "  At  this  time  the  inhabit- 
ants of  my  native  town  were  much  engaged  in 
religion,  and  it  appeared  the  Lord  was  about  to 
do  wondrous  things  among  us.  I  had  resolved 
to  stay  at  home  this  winter,  partly  on  account 
of  the  threatening  difficulties  from  the  belliger- 
ents, and  partly  because  the  voyage  was  intend- 
ed to  be  a  very  long  one,  as  before,  and  I  found 
my  constitution  rather  unable  to  bear  so  long 
the  hardships  of  the  sea. 

"Now  I  had  opportunity  of  meeting  with  the 
people  of  God  almost  every  day  or  evening,  and 
at  times  methinks  I  enjoy  this  favor.  The  first 
Sabbath  in  March,  1808,  there  were  added  to 
the  Church  ninety-seven  persons,  and  the  prob- 
ability is  there  will  be  as  many  on  the  next  sac- 
ramental occasion. 

"  The  time  for  administering  the  sacrament 
beginning  to  draw  near,  and  my  mind  having 
for  a  considerable  time  been  very  uneasy  re- 
specting my  spiritual  condition,  I  now  have 
given  myself  to  serious  inquiry  into  this  matter, 
and  have  resolved- by  Divine  assistance  to  seek 


THE    SHADOWS    FLEEING    AWAY.  115 

God  by  fasting  and  prayer,  that  I  may  know 
whether  I  be  in  the  faith  or  not ;  being  per- 
suaded that  I  never  can  be  useful  as  a  member 
of  the  Church  while  I  remain  so  beset  with 
doubts  and  fears. 

"  Sabbath,  June  5th,  the  sacrament  was  ad- 
ministered. With  thanksgiving  I  desire  to  men- 
tion the  exceeding  goodness  of  God  to  me  this 
day.  I  trust  I  had  some  views  of  a  Savior  pre- 
cious to  my  soul,  and  my  doubts  and  fears  are 
banished  in  a  great  degree.  Oh  !  how  wonder- 
ful is  the  faithfulness  of  our  God.  At  this  time 
my  elder  brother,  who  had  been  laboring  under 
great  difficulty  of  mind,  and  seemed  bordering 
on  despair,  found  relief,  and  was  enabled  to  re- 
joice in  the  Savior  once  more. 

"  Sabbath,  June  26th.  This  day  methinks  I 
have  enjoyed  a  visit  from  my  Savior.  Oh  !  how 
kindly  does  he  draw  by  the  cords  of  love,  and 
how  pleasant  was  it  to  wait  upon  God  in  his 
sanctuary." 

Beneath  his  cooling  shade  I  sat, 
To  shield  me  from  the  burning  heat ; 
Of  heavenly  fruit  he  spreads  a  feast, 
To  feed  my  eyes  and  please  my  taste. 

Kindly  he  brought  me  to  the  place 
Where  stands  the  banquet  of  his  grace. 
He  saw  me  faint,  and  o'er  my  head 
The  banner  of  his  love  he  spread. 


116  CAPTAIN    OBADIAH    CONGAR. 

With  living  bread  and  generous  wine 
He  cheers  this  sinking  soul  of  mine ; 
And  opening  his  whole  heart  to  me, 
He  shows  his  thoughts  how  kind  they  be. 

Oh !  never  let  my  Lord  depart ; 
Lie  down  and  rest  upon  my  heart. 
I  charge  my  sins  not  once  to  move, 
Nor  stir,  nor  wake,  nor  grieve  my  love. 

"  Monday,  June  27th,  1808.  This  day  I  have 
entered  upon  the  forty-first  year  of  my  age. 
Alas  !  when  I  look  back  upon  my  life  past,  what 
do  I  survey  but  a  scene  of  rebellion  the  greater 
part,  and  base  ingratitude  for  unmerited  favors. 
But  as  the  stubborn  and  rebellious  Jews  were 
destroyed  in  the  course  of  the  forty  years  in  the 
wilderness,  so  may  all  my  corruptions  be  slain, 
and  may  I  now  engage,  as  it  were  anew,  upon 
the  service  of  my  Creator  and  Redeemer.  From 
this  time  onward  until  the  first  of  December,  I 
trust  I  was  enabled  to  rejoice  in  God  my  Sa- 
vior. I  felt  that  all  my  salvation  was  of  free 
grace.  I  can  now  take  a  sincere  pleasure  in 
public  and  private  duties  of  worship,  and  in  the 
society  of  Christians.  If  I  be  not  deceived,  I 
felt  strong  desires  for  the  salvation  of  poor  sin- 
ners, and  I  was  enabled  to  see  how  God  could 
be  glorified,  and  to  rejoice  in  it ;  and  methinks 
I  felt  such  confidence  in  his  faithfulness  that  I 
could  commit  to  him  all  my  future  destinies." 


TRACK  OF  THE  HEAVENLY  FOOTMAN.   117 

Having  pursued  thus  far  through  the  lights 
and  shadows  of  the  Christian  life  herein  traced, 
we  leave  our  navigator  for  the  present  in  this 
happy  estate,  the  race  of  his  life  just  half  run  ; 
praying  that  the  peace  of  God  which  passeth 
all  understanding  may  in  like  manner  be  the 
portion  of  every  earnest  mind  that  peruses  these 
pages. 


SAT  not  'tis  all  a  dreary  way, 

With  rocks  beset,  with  briers  growing, 
Where  never  beams  of  sunlight  stray, 

And  ne'er  a  gentle  stream  is  flowing. 
Or,  if  it  be  that  thou  dost  stray 

Through  scenes  so  darksome,  wild,  and  frightful, 
Yet  there  is  one  who  loves  thee  so, 

That  he  can  make  e'en  this  delightful. 
Then  drive  away  thy  doubts  and  fears, 

Nor  dread  the  ills  that  threat  to  hurt  thee ; 
For  Christ,  that  saw  thee  in  thy  tears, 

Hath  said,  He  never  will  desert  thee. 

FOOTMAN  in  the  heavenly  race — 
Fellow-sinner,  saved  by  grace, 
If  thou  hast  indeed  begun 
In  the  heavenly  way  to  run — 
Many  a  cloud  will  gather  o'er  thee, 
Many  a  trial  lies  before  thee, 
Many  a  wild  along  the  way 
Waits  to  tempt  thy  foot  astray ; 
Many  a  hill,  whose  rugged  road 
Will  not  let  thee  hoar  thy  load 


118        CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

(Save  the  inseparable  cross), 

Thou  must  climb,  and  leave  thy  dross. 

But  there  waiteth  at  the  end 
Such  a  home  and  such  a  Friend, 
Such  a  crown  and  such  a  throne, 
Such  a  harp  of  heavenly  tone, 
Such  companions,  such  employ, 
Such  a  world  of  hallow'd  joy ! 
And  thou  hast,  along  the  way, 
Many  a  promise  for  thy  stay ; 
Strength  and  comfort  from  above, 
Heavenly  hope  and  heavenly  love ! 
Footman,  speed  thy  heavenward  pace, 
Trust  in  God,  and  win  the  race. 


CHECKERED    EXPERIENCE   OF   A   CHRISTIAN.    119 


CHAPTER  VI. 

LABORS  WITH  HIMSELF  AND  LABORS  IN  BEHALF   OF 
THE  SABBATH  FOR  SEAMEN. 

WE'RE  often  like  the  lonesome  doTe  that  mourns  her  absent 

mate, 

From  hill  to  hill,  from  vale  to  vale,  her  woes  she  doth  relate: 
But  Canaan's  land  is  just  before,  sweet  spring  is  coming  on; 
A  few  more  beating  winds  and  rains,  and  winter  will  be  gone. 
Sometimes  like  mountains  to  the  skies,  black  Jordan's  billow* 

roar, 

And  make  us  weary  pilgrims  fear  we  never  shall  get  o'er : 
But  when,  as  from  Mount  Pisgah's  top,  we  view  the  vernal 

plain, 

To  fright  our  souls  may  Jordan  roar,  and  hell  may  rage  in  vain. 

TIEBOUT'S  Hymnt. 

THE  web  of  human  life  is  always  party-col- 
ored :  the  tissue  of  the  soul's  history  especially 
is  made  up  of  many  threads,  some  black,  some 
bright,  and  all  closely  interwoven  with  one  an- 
other. The  fabric  of  religious  experience  un- 
rolled in  the  present  chapter  is  of  this  descrip- 
tion ;  for  in  the  life  of  Captain  Congar,  as  in 
that  of  most  other  men,  the  clouds  followed 
sunshine,  storm  came  after  calm,  and  a  day  of 
brightness  and  joy  was  frequently  succeeded  by 
a  night  of  gloom.  Men's  faults,  according  to 


120         CAPTAIN  OBADIAU  CONGAR. 

the  dramatist,  would  despair  if  they  were  not. 
nursed  by  their  virtues  ;  and  our  virtues  would 
grow  proud  if  they  were  not  whipped  by  our 
faults. 

Early  in  tho  spring  of  1809  we  find  him  in- 
stituting a  rigid  self-examination,  taking  him- 
self seriously  to  task,  and  sighing  like  Job,  'O 
that  it  were  with  me  as  in  months  that  are 
passed,  when  the  candle  of  the  Lord  shined 
upon  me.'  "  We  naturally  love,"  says  he, 
"  pleasant  gales  and  a  smooth  sea  ;  but  when 
the  rough  winds  of  adversity  begin  to  blow, 
how  soon  do  our  spirits  sink.  Not  long  since 
I  trust  I  could  say  with  a  good  degree  of  sin- 
cerity, '  The  Lord  is  my  portion  ;  what  need  I 
more  !'  I  fondly  hoped  I  should  never  again  be 
exercised  with  doubts  and  fears ;  but  ah !  I 
have  reason  to  fear  that  I  looked  too  much  to 
my  own  self,  and  forgot  that,  without  Christ,  I 
could  do  nothing.  The  state  of  my  mind  being 
so  very  different  from  what  it  was  last  summer, 
I  have  endeavored  to  draw  a  contrast  between 
my  exercises  then  and  now.  The  Divine  char- 
acter, perfections,  and  government  appeared  to 
me  then  admirable  and  lovely,  and  every  way 
worthy  the  chief  regard  of  all  intelligent  creat- 
ures. Now  these  glories  seem  hid,  or  other- 
wise the  mind  is  so  exceeding  dull  and  stupid 


BROUGHT  TO  BKARING3  BY   8ELK-1NUUIRY.     1*21 

that  it  takes  very  little  satisfaction  in  meditat- 
ing on  them. 

"  Then  I  felt  a  sweet  dependence  upon  the 
grace  of  God  for  all  I  needed  both  for  time  and 
eternity.  Now  the  thoughts  are  employed 
much  of  my  time  in  seeking  to  do  something 
on  the  score  of  law,  and  frequently  intent  on 
quieting  conscience.  Then  methinks  I  relied 
entirely  on  the  atonement  of  the  blessed  Re- 
deemer  for  all  hope  of  pardon  and  acceptance 
with  God,  and  cordially  embraced  him  for  my 
Savior  and  my  portion.  Now  the  excellences 
of  the  Redeemer  are  not  seen  but  at  a  distance, 
and  the  soul  is  bent  on  seeking  some  good 
work,  or  falls  into  melancholy.  Before,  there 
was  an  inconceivable  composure  of  mind,  that 
was  pleased  at  all  times,  and  could  look  for- 
ward to  a  never-ending  eternity  even  with  de- 
light. Now  the  mind  knows  but  little  of  such 
feelings ;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  there  is  con- 
siderable anxiety  for  my  future  state.  Then 
was  experienced  a  liberty  of  soul,  a  deliverance 
from  the  shackles  of  Satan,  and  freedom  from 
the  reigning  power  of  sin.  Now  new  tempta- 
tions arise,  the  mind  is  filled  with  fears  and 
doubts,  difficulties  increase,  and  I  am  in  trou- 
ble, constantly  harassed  with  vain  and  sinful 
thoughts.  Then  methinks  I  could  approach 


122        CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

the  throne  of  grace  with  an  humble  boldness, 
and,  though  my  desires  were  ardent  for  some 
particular  mercies,  especially  the  salvation  of 
one  who  was  dear  to  me,  yet  I  felt  a  calm  sub- 
mission that  could  leave  all  in  the  hands  of 
God  and  say,  His  will  be  done.  Now  the  duty 
of  prayer  is,  I  am  ashamed  to  say,  burden- 
some ;  there  is  too  often  a  want  of  liberty,  the 
mind  is  much  disturbed  with  wanderings,  and 
there  is  very  little  sense  of  the  great  privilege 
granted  to  sinners  in  thus  holding  converse 
with  the  Most  High.  Then  the  society  of 
Christians  was  pleasant  and  comfortable,  and 
the  affection  they  shared  in  my  heart  was 
strong  and  sincere,  and  much  I  enjoyed  in  their 
company.  Now  such  seasons  I  realize  not.  I 
am  sensible  of  very  little  fellowship  with  Chris- 
tians, and  there  is  frequently  a  disposition  to 
shun  their  society;  however,  I  can  not  say  that 
I  fully  take  pleasure  in  the  society  of  those  I 
deem  destitute  of  religion.  Then,  if  I  be  not 
deceived,  I  felt  a  benevolence  and  good-will  to- 
ward my  fellow-creatures,  and  strong  desires 
for  their  salvation  as  connected  with  the  glory 
of  God  ;  but  at  present  a  great  indifference 
prevails  with  regard  to  both  these  objects.  Ah ! 
how  little  is  to  be  enjoyed  in  the  soul  without 
religion  in  present  exercise  !" 


THE    CHRISTIAN    MARINER'S    NIGHT    BIDE.     123 

A  morbid  melancholy  now  possessed  him  for 
a  little  season,  and  his  mind  preyed  upon  itself, 
owing  mainly  to  a  want  of  steady,  satisfying 
employment  while  off  the  sea.  But  the  severe 
self-scrutiny  and  sorrow  for  sin  he  underwent 
resulted  in  benefit  to  his  Christian  character, 
and  to  the  establishment  of  his  soul  in  grace. 
At  length,  on  the  twenty-fourth  of  April,  1809, 
we  find  this  entry  in  his  journal : 

"  An  arrangement  being  fixed  upon  between 
the  British  minister  and  our  government  for  the 
renewal  of  commerce,  I  have  this  day  taken 
command  of  the  ship  Atlas,  belonging  to  the 
house  of  W.  Neilson  &  Son,  in  whose  employ  I 
had  been  before  the  embargo  took  place.  I  trust 
I  entered  upon  this  business  with  prayer  to  God 
that  I  might  be  enabled  to  seek  his  glory  in  all 
my  pursuits,  and  be  useful  to  my  fellow-creat- 
ures in  the  sphere  wherein  I  am  placed.  I 
feel,  indeed,  insufficient  for  the  duties  of  my  sta- 
tion,, but  I  endeavor  to  look  up  to  the  Lord  for 
direction  and  support.  This  ship  being  nearly 
loaded  before  I  took  charge  of  her,  we  had  but 
little  to  do  in  order  to  get  ready  for  sea. 

"May  the  llth  we  left  New  York,  and  on 
the  13th  sailed  from  Sandy  Hook  with  a  fine 
breeze,  which  scarcely  left  us  until  we  were  at 
anchor  in  King  Road,  being  thirty-three  days 


I'AFTAI.V   OBADIAH   COXGAU. 


from  New  York.  We  sailed  again  from  Bristol 
on  the  eighth  day  of  August,  with  a  full  freight 
for  New  York. 

"  On  the  19th  of  October,  after  being  seven- 
ty-two days  at  sea,  and  a  part  of  the  time  in 
great  danger  from  icebergs,  we  arrived  safe  in 
New  York,  much  to  the  satisfaction  of  my 
friends  and  employer,  who  all  had  their  fears 
for  our  safety.  The  Sabbath  following  I  was 
once  more  favored  with  an  opportunity  of  meet- 
ing my  Newark  friends,  and  of  making  public 
acknowledgments  to  Almighty  God  in  his  house 
for  his  mercies  to  me  while  absent.  Methinks 
I  experienced  peculiar  satisfaction  in  the  soci- 
ety of  my  Christian  brethren,  with  whom  of 
late  I  had  been  in  habits  of  so  much  intimacy, 
and  who  seemed  to  say  in  their  countenances 
as  well  as  with  their  lips,  Welcome  once  more 
in  the  land  of  the  living. 

"  Soon  after  we  had  delivered  the  cargo  we 
contemplated  another  voyage,  and  as  by  a  late 
law  we  were  now  restricted  from  going  to  En- 
gland, my  employers  finally  concluded  to  order 
us  for  Madeira.  Although  the  difficulties  to  be 
expected  in  our  business  seemed  to  be  increas- 
ing, nevertheless  I  engaged  in  this  voyage  with 
much  less  reluctance  than  was  the  case  the  pre- 
ceding voyage.  In  general,  I  trust  I  can  say 


CONSIDERATIONS    OF    DUTY    TO    HIS    CREW.     125 

with  sincerity  that,  notwithstanding  the  un- 
pleasant sensations  at  parting  with  friends,  and 
all  the  difficulties  incident  to  my  situation  in 
life,  yet  I  have  found  much  peace  of  mind  and 
much  of  the  favor  of  God ;  mercies  which  I  de- 
sire to  feel  grateful  for,  and  hope  that  I  may 
cherish  a  due  sense  of  my  obligations  at  all 
times  upon  my  mind. 

"  Since  I  have  been  preparing  for  this  voyage, 
my  thoughts  have  been  much  employed  on  the 
importance  of  endeavoring  to  instruct  those  who 
might  fall  under  my  care  in  the  great  business 
of  religion.  I  have  viewed  with  concern  that 
this  class  of  men,  whose  occupation  is  on  the 
mighty  waters,  are  necessarily  excluded  from 
the  common  opportunities  of  religious  instruc- 
tion and  means  of  grace  with  which  people  on 
land  are  favored,  and  /  could  not  see  how  their 
situation  was  ever  likely  to  be  otherwise,  ex- 
cept those  who  have  the  command  feel  it  in- 
cumbent, and  undertake  to  supply  the  place  of 
others  more  capable.  And  I  have  often  thought 
our  particular  situation  at  sea  would  greatly 
assist  the  feeblest  efforts  which  might  be  made 
to  lead  men  to  consider  their  ways. 

"  What  is  better  calculated  to  teach  us  our 
dependence  on  God  than  to  be  exposed  on  the 
wide  ocean,  and  sometimes  in  a  crazy  vessel 


126  CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

too,  to  every  gust  of  wind  that  blows,  and  to 
innumerable  dangers  which  human  foresight 
can  not  discover,  or,  if  discovered,  could  not  pre- 
vent ?  Is  not  the  mighty  power  of  God  re- 
markably displayed  in  raising  up  the  stormy 
wind,  which  lifteth  up  the  waves  thereof,  and 
sometimes  threatens  destruction  to  every  thing 
before  them  ?  In  the  107th  Psalm  is  a  grand 
description  of  God's  power  in  the  deep,  and  of 
the  situation  of  those  who  behold  these  awful 
displays.  Besides,  the  sea  is  particularly  favor- 
able to  reflection.  Called  upon  for  a  time  to 
part  not  only  with  the  most  endearing  comforts 
of  life,  but  with  those  scenes  of  mirth  and  folly 
which  drown  every  serious  thought,  the  sailor, 
while  he  stands  his  watch  on  deck,  is  compelled 
to  reflect ;  and  I  believe  few  instances  occur 
where  sailors  do  not  feel  some  secret  misgivings 
for  their  misspent  time  while  at  sea,  and  resolve 
to  amend  their  ways. 

"  And,  besides,  I  have  felt  accountable  to  God, 
in  some  degree,  for  the  souls  of  those  whom  he 
should  put  under  my  care  and  authority.  I 
did  not,  indeed,  consider  myself  placed  in  the 
situation  of  a  parent,  for  then,  as  a  professor  of 
religion,  I  could  not  have  neglected  these  duties, 
but  rather  considered  myself  as  a  master  and  a 
watchman.  I  have  thought  much  of  the  im- 


STRUGGLE  BETWEEN  DIFFIDENCE  A  SO   DUTY.    127 

port  of  the  words  contained  in  the  sixth  verse 
of  the  thirty-third  chapter  of  Ezekiel.  I  cer- 
tainly profess  and  trust  I  do  see,  in  some  meas- 
ure, the  judgments  of  God  coming  upon  all 
finally  impenitent  sinners ;  how,  then,  can  I  neg- 
lect to  give  them  warning,  whether  they  will 
hear  or  whether  they  will  forbear,  that  at  least 
I  may  deliver  my  own  soul  ? 

"I  have  also  understood  the  apostle's  argu- 
ments in  the  tenth  chapter  of  Romans  and  four- 
teenth verse,  to  be  a  direction  and  injunction  on 
all  who  have  the  Scriptures  in  their  hands,  and 
hope  they  understand,  in  some  degree,  the  will 
of  God  as  contained  therein,  to  use  their  influ- 
ence as  they  have  opportunity,  in  instructing 
those  who  hitherto  have  remained  ignorant  or 
regardless  of  so  important  a  matter. 

"  And,  if  I  be  not  deceived,  I  see  that  God  is 
infinitely  worthy  to  be  loved  by  all  his  intelli- 
gent creatures.  And  do  I  not  believe  that  all 
mankind  are  under  sin,  and  have  need  of  a  Sa- 
vior ?  and  shall  I  be  content  so  long  as  I  secure 
my  own  salvation,  let  what  will  become  of  oth- 
ers ?  Some  hints  thrown  out  by  the  Reverend 
William  Woodbridge,  while  I  was  at  home,  had 
considerable  influence  on  my  mind  in  determin- 
ing what  ought  to  be  done.  But  when  the  va- 
rious difficulties  presented  themselves  to  me — 


128         CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

when  I  began  to  count  the  cost,  my  resolution 
began  to  fail ;  for  I  felt  wholly  insufficient  for 
so  great  an  undertaking,  and  my  own  dullness 
and  stupidity  rendered  me  so  insensible  to  the 
great  objects  which  had  now  engaged  my  atten- 
tion, that  I  was  on  the  point  of  giving  up  the 
whole  as  impracticable. 

"With  all  my  resolutions  and  fears  before 
me,  I  turned  my  eyes  toward  the  mighty  God 
of  Jacob,  and  resting,  I  trust,  on  his  promise, 
that  as  our  day  is  so  shall  our  strength  be,  I 
called  the  crew  together  on  New-year's  day, 
1810,  and  informed  them  of  my  intentions,  at 
the  same  time  using  arguments  to  convince 
them  of  the  necessity  and  propriety  of  attend- 
ing constantly  and  seriously  to  the  important 
concerns  of  religion.  They  listened  to  me  with 
apparent  readiness  to  unite  in  the  duties  which 
I  had  proposed,  and  accordingly  we  fixed  upon 
the  hour  of  six  o'clock  the  same  evening  to  meet 
for  these  exercises. 

"At the  time  appointed  we  assembled  in  the 
cabin  gangway  (our  cabin  being  filled  with  car- 
go), and  spent  some  time  in  reading  and  mak- 
ing some  observations  on  the  Scriptures,  and 
concluded  with  prayer.  In  the  performance  of 
these  duties  I  experienced  much  less  difficulty 
than  I  anticipated,  and  I  can  say.  to  the  credit 


Till:    riABIIATII    KXPKKI.MKVI  MI.     lV*«J 

of  the  crew,  they  all  behaved  with  a  very  be- 
coming deportment. 

"  Sabbath,  January  7th.  Feeling  it  import- 
ant that  the  day  set  apart  for  religious  worship 
on  shore  should  be  observed  in  something  like 
such  a  manner  at  sea,  I  made  some  observations 
to  the  crew  on  the  propriety  of  considering  the 
Sabbath  of  God's  appointment,  and  as  a  day  set 
apart  for  religious  worship,  and  therefore  bind- 
ing on  all  men  and  in  all  places,  as  circum- 
stances wouid  admit ;  adding,  that  it  was  my 
desire  we  should  meet  at  the  hour  of  two  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon  for  the  purposes  before  men- 
tioned. 

"  When  the  hour  arrived  we  came  together, 
and  spent  some  time  in  prayer,  reading  the 
Scriptures,  and  something  from  the  works  of 
Mr.  Bellamy,  &c.  While  attending  to  these  ex- 
ercises they  all  behaved  orderly  and  decent,  and, 
indeed,  through  the  whole  day.  On  the  whole, 
the  day  has  been  comfortable  to  me,  far  beyond 
what  I  have  experienced  many  Sabbaths  at 
sea,  and  I  am  not  without  hopes  these  feeble  at- 
tempts to  restrain  the  prevailing  vices  of  those 
whose  business  is  on  the  great  waters,  and  to 
teach  the  fear  of  God  even  in  a  ship,  may  not 
be  altogether  in  vain.  Although  I  dare  not  say 
with  confidence  my  motives  are  pure,  and  that 

r 


130  CAPTAIN    UBADIAH    CONGAR. 

my  actions  spring  wholly  from  sincere  desires 
to  promote  the  Redeemer's  kingdom,  yet  some- 
times I  do  hope  this  is  the  case. 

"  Our  passage  was  very  comfortable,  consid- 
ering the  season  of  the  year,  and  otherwise  much 
more  agreeable  than  it  usually  is  on  board  of 
ships.  On  the  thirty-third  day  from  our  leav- 
ing New  York  we  were  off  the  town  of  Fun- 
chal  (Madeira),  and  about  coming  to  anchor, 
but  the  weather  growing  squally,  we  stood  to 
sea  again,  and  the  same  night  came  on  a  heavy 
gale  from  the  northwest.  We  returned  to  the 
roads  again  and  anchored  the  eighteenth  of 
January.  Found  a  large  number  of  vessels  ly- 
ing here,  a  circumstance  by  no  means  desirable, 
it  being  a  wild  roadstead  at  the  best.  Our  car- 
go being  intended  for  the  British  market,  we 
were  obliged  to  wait  for  vessels  from  England 
to  take  it  on  board.  The  first  fourteen  days 
after  our  arrival  had  fine  weather,  and  met  with 
no  difficulty  ;  but  from  this  time  until  we  took 
our  departure  from  the  island,  we  were  obliged 
to  put  to  sea  five  different  times,  and  on  the 
last  of  these  occasions  we  were  out  twenty-three 
days.  Several  of  our  crew  got  hurt  in  one  way 
or  another,  but  none  proved  fatal." 

April  7th,  having  completed  discharging  the 
cargo,  they  sailed  for  the  Cape  de  Verd  Islands 


BENIGN   EFFECT  OF  HALLOWING  THE  SABBATH.    131 

fur  a  cargo  of  salt ;  but,  being  disappointed  in 
obtaining  it,  they  proceeded  at  once  in  ballast 
to  New  York.  In  reviewing  this  voyage,  he 
says,  "  With  respect  to  any  effect  produced  on 
the  crew  by  attending  religious  duties,  I  think 
I  can  say  with  truth,  that  in  general  they  be- 
haved much  less  immoral,  and  for  the  most 
part  more  orderly  and  decent  in  their  conduct 
than  is  usually  the  case  on  board  of  ships,  and 
one  of  them,  a  native  of  Sweden,  gave  consid- 
erable evidence,  on  his  return  home,  of  his  hav- 
ing experienced  the  power  of  religion  on  his 
heart. 

"  We  were  not  long  in  port  at  this  time  be- 
fore our  employers  concluded  to  send  the  ship 
to  Liverpool,  and,  with  this  view,  commenced 
loading  with  all  possible  dispatch.  It  now  ap- 
peared advisable  for  me  to  acquaint  some  one 
of  the  clergy  in  the  city  with  my  proceedings, 
and,  should  they  be  approved  of,  to  ask  further 
advice  and  assistance.  I  saw  Dr.  Romeyne. 
He  encouraged  me  to  continue  the  practice,  and 
promised  to  procure  some  Bibles  from  the  New 
York  Bible  Society,  to  be  disposed  of  on  board 
as  I  might  deem  proper ;  he  also  recommended 
me  to  get  some  religious  tracts,  to  be  distribu- 
ted among  the  crew  as  occasion  might  offer. 
And  now  the  time  drew  near  that  I  must  part 


132  CAPTAIN    MB  ADI  Ail    CONGAR. 

with  connections  and  friends,  with  the  society 
of  Christians,  and,  I  may  add,  almost  with  the 
world,  to  pursue  my  occupation  again  on  the 
deep.  But  this  reflection  calmed  my  mind : 
The  Lord  is  every  where — myself  and  all  that 
is  dear  to  me  are  in  his  hands;  and  with  grati- 
tude I  can  say  I  don't  recollect  an  instance 
when  I  have  been  so  composed  on  these  occa- 
sions. 

"  We  were  now  again  a  little  family  of  stran- 
gers, formed  promiscuously  of  different  charac- 
ters, and  about  one  half  of  our  number  were 
colored  people.  Sabbath  morning,  July  8th, 
being  the  first  opportunity  which  offered,  I  called 
the  crew  together,  and,  after  entreating  them 
to  observe  a  decency  of  conduct,  to  refrain  from 
profane  and  unbecoming  language,  and  to  re- 
gard the  Sabbath  day  differently  from  what  is 
usually  the  case  at  sea,  I  informed  them  it  was 
my  desire  we  should  meet  together  as  often  as 
circumstances  would  admit  to  attend  upon  re- 
ligious duties  after  the  manner  which  we  had 
done  the  voyage  before.  I  also  distributed  the 
Bibles  among  them,  as  they  were  destitute,  with 
the  religious  tracts.  I  have  the  pleasure  to  say, 
on  all  occasions  when  the  crew  have  been  called 
upon  to  attend  on  religious  exercises,  their  con- 
duct would  have  done  honor  to  a  better-informed 


VIEWS*    UK     HIM.-IM.l       \\U     "K     ColJ.  1  '.M 

society,  and  I  am  not  without  hopes  the  Lord 
wUl  bless  these  means  to  the  good  of  some. 
Wednesday,  July  18th,  being  about  the  Banks 
of  Newfoundland,  we  fell  in  with  a  large  island 
of  ice,  appearing  to  be  at  least  forty  feet  above 
the  surface  of  the  water.  This  makes  the  fourth 
time  I  have  fallen  in  with  ice  in  these  latitudes ; 
and  I  can  not  but  remark  the  interposition  of 
Providence  in  our  escapes  from  shipwreck,  since 
we  have  always  had  thick  blowing  weather  just 
before  we  have  seen  them,  after  which  the 
weather  continued  fine  until  we  considered  our- 
selves out  of  danger. 

"  My  thoughts  at  this  time  are  dwelling  much 
on  the  deceitfulness  of  my  own  heart.  I  find 
that  by  nature  it  is  desperately  wicked ;  who 
can  know  it  ?  And  it  is  astonishing  what  pleas 
Satan  and  corrupt  nature  will  urge  that  sin 
may  be  indulged.  But  where  sin  abounded, 
grace  did  much  more  abound.  Thanks  be  to 
God,  the  consolations  of  his  word  are  equal  to 
our  wants ;  herein  I  found  relief  to  my  mind 
under  these  fears  and  doubts  from  the  following 
passage  in  the  119th  Psalm  and  49th  verse: 
*  Remember  the  word  unto  thy  servant,  upon 
which  thou  hast  caused  me  to  hope.'  I  find 
nothing  in  the  Scriptures  spoken  particularly 
to  me  as  a  foundation  to  build  rny  hopes  upon, 


134  CAPTAIN    OBAUIAII    COXGAR. 

but  I  find  there,  '  God  so  loved  the  world,  that 
he  gave  his  only-begotten  Son,  that  whosoever 
believeth  on  him  might  not  perish,  but  obtain 
everlasting  life  ;'  and,  indeed,  the  whole  Bible 
is  calculated  to  afford  consolation  and  support 
to  the  mourner  for  sin." 

On  their  return  from  Liverpool,  a  sudden 
and  awful  tempest  was  experienced,  respecting 
which  we  find  it  entered  in  the  Journal :  "  This 
I  reckoned  the  third  heaviest  gale  ever  witness- 
ed by  me.  Our  ship  lay  very  safe,  notwith- 
standing she  would  sometimes  roll  the  fore-yard 
six  feet  under  water.  As  soon  as  we  had  se- 
cured the  sails  I  called  the  crew  down  into  the 
cabin,  and  sought  by  prayer  and  supplication 
the  protection  of  Him  who  holdeth  the  winds 
in  His  fists  and  the  waters  in  the  hollow  of  His 
hand ;  and  blessed  be  His  name,  we  were  de- 
livered from  all  evil  in  this  difficult  time.  Oh 
that  men  would  praise  the  Lord  for  his  good- 
ness and  for  his  wonderful  works  to  the  chil- 
dren of  men." 

In  another  voyage  to  England,  immediately 
subsequent  to  this,  he  took  the  same  course 
with  respect  to  the  Sabbath  on  the  first  Lord's 
day  out  of  port,  distributing  Bibles  and  tracts 
as  before,  and  addressing  his  crew  on  the  du- 
ties of  religion ;  and  he  remarks,  in  recording 


A     VERY    COMM'iN     Mfsi  .\Kl.     i'<  iRUIXTKI) 

it,  "I  must  now  take  notice  of  a  circumstance 
which  I  can  not  but  deem  as  providential. 
Previous  io  my  undertaking  to  perform  relig- 
ious exercises  on  board,  I  had  for  some  consid- 
erable time  been  subject  to  a  great  weakness 
of  the  lungs,  insomuch  that  I  found  it  difficult 
to  read  or  speak  even  for  a  few  minutes ;  but, 
from  the  first  attempt  until  the  present  time, 
I  have  found  no  difficulty  on  this  account,  though 
I  have  sometimes  been  engaged  reading  and 
speaking  two  hours  together.  On  the  afternoon 
of  the  Sabbath  above  alluded  to,  we  met  and  at- 
tended to  reading  the  Scriptures,  a  hymn,  some- 
thing  from  the  confession  of  faith  on  prayer,  and 
also  Watts's  guide  to  prayer  on  the  same  sub- 
ject, and  concluded  with  prayer. 

"  Although  most  part  of  the  crew  were  stran- 
gers to  me,  and  strangers  to  such  proceedings  at 
sea,  they  conducted  with  the  strictest  propriety 
and  good  order,  and  I  am  now  fully  convinced 
that  the  notion  winch  many  masters  and  offi- 
cers of  ships  entertain,  that  sailors  can  not  be 
governed  without  rough  usage  and  bad  lan- 
guage, is  altogether  void  of  weight ;  since  1 
have  found,  by  considerable  experience,  much 
int  difficulty  in  the  matter  than  when,  as  for- 
merly (with  shame  I  confess  it),  I  have  myself 
used  these  practices.  And  it  is  also  a  mistake 


130  CAI'TAIN    OBADIAH    CONG  All. 

that  sailors  will  mock  at  every  thing  like  relig- 
ion on  board.  It  is  true  that  some  appear  to 
be  very  little  affected  with  its  weighty  con- 
cerns, and  is  it  not  true,  also,  that  many  dis- 
cover the  same  indifference  on  land  ?" 

On  their  return  from  Bristol  they  took  on 
board  a  number  of  passengers  both  in  the  cabin 
and  steerage  ;  and  with  the  Christian  fidelity 
and  carefulness  for  souls  which  had  now  be- 
come a  part  of  Captain  Cougar's  character,  he 
took  occasion,  as  soon  as  they  were  over  their 
sea-sickness,  to  express  his  wish  that  they  should 
attend  to  religious  duties  on  Sabbath  days,  and 
on  the  evening  of  every  day.  This,  he  says, 
they  all  readily  assented  to,  and  some  of  them 
even  seemed  desirous  of  it. 

"  One  of  the  passengers  in  the  steerage,  being 
a  professor  of  religion,  used  to  assist  on  these 
occasions,  and  this  practice  we  continued  all 
the  passage,  and  it  was  not  only  comfortable  to 
myself,  but  I  hope  in  some  measure  profitable 
to  all.  The  latter  part  of  the  passage  we  had 
more  favorable  winds,  and  arrived  in  New  York 
July  13th,  being  forty-four  days,  all  in  good 
health  ;  for  which  mercies  I  desire  to  be  thank- 
ful, but  especially  for  the  consolations  of  the 
Spirit  afforded  me  at  different  times  while  at 
sea,  so  that  I  trust  I  could  say  His  favor  is 


RELIGIOUS    ENJOYMENT   IN   ORDINANCES.     137 

life,  and   his   loving-kindness   is   better   than 
life." 

This  habit  he  continued  in  successive  voy- 
ages to  and  from  England  until  the  interrup- 
tion of  commerce  with  Great  Britain  by  the  war 
of  1812.  The  inconvenience  of  being  put  out 
of  business  thereby,  he  gratefully  takes  notice, 
was  made  up  to  him  by  the  satisfaction  found 
in  the  society  of  friends  and  Christian  ordinan- 
ces. At  the  Lord's  Supper  he  had  humbling 
views  of  his  own  unworthiness,  and  reviving 
views  of  Christ,  that  made  him  exclaim, 

Why  was  I  made  to  hear  thy  voice, 

And  enter  while  there's  room, 
While  thousands  make  a  wretched  choice. 

And  rather  starve  than  come. 

"  Having,  therefore,  professedly  set  to  my 
seal  that  God  is  true,  oh  that  I  might  be  ena- 
bled to  dedicate  myself  to  His  service.  Surely 
his  service  is  an  easy  service.  It  is  perfect  free- 
dom. His  yoke  is  easy  and  his  burden  is  light. 
Have  I  not  found  by  experience  that  the  service 
of  God  is  easier  than  the  service  of  sin  and  Sa- 
tan, without  regard  to  consequences  ?  Awake, 
then,  my  sluggish  soul,  trim  up  thy  lamp,  and 
be  like  them  that  wait  for  their  Lord,  when  he 
shall  return  from  the  wedding. 

•'  It  \vonM  surpass  my  powers  to  mention 


138  CAPTAIN    UBAUIAH    CONOAK. 

the  tender  mercies  of  God  toward  me  since  I 
have  been  at  home  with  my  friends.  Much  I 
have  enjoyed  in  their  society  and  that  of  my 
Christian  brethren. 

"  It  now  became  my  duty  to  resume  my  pro- 
fession. The  state  of  war  in  which  our  nation 
was  unhappily  engaged  with  Great  Britain,  to- 
gether with  the  difficulty  which  we  were  liable 
to  on  the  ocean  from  the  armed  vessels  of  other 
nations,  particularly  the  Algerines,  who  had 
lately  declared  hostilities  against  the  United 
States,  rendered  this  business  extremely  haz- 
ardous. But,  believing  that  my  duty  lay  in 
that  line,  and  endeavoring  to  commit  my  way 
unto  the  Lord,  who  is  always  ready  to  relieve 
the  wants  of  his  dependent  creatures,  I  went  to 
New  York  for  the  purpose  of  seeking  employ. 
I  had  been  in  the  city  but  a  few  days  before  I 
met  with  Mr.  N.,  my  late  employer,  who  gave 
me  to  understand  he  was  about  preparing  the 
ship  Susannah  for  a  voyage  to  Lisbon,  and  in- 
timated a  wish  I  should  take  charge  of  her. 
This  I  readily  agreed  to,  and  on  the  18th  of 
October  commenced  my  new  engagements  on 
board  the  above  ship. 

"  Without  interruption  from  the  cruisers  of 
any  nation,  we  passed  the  Azores  in  twenty 
days,  on  the  llth  of  December  made  the  Rock 


DIVEE8    DAN6EE*    HAFELY    PABdKD.  1  ,T.< 

of  Lisbon,  and  at  3  P.M.  of  the  next  day  came 
to  anchor  in  the  Tagus,  all  well.  While  lying 
here,  a  heavy  blow  from  the  westward  did  great 
damage  to  the  shipping.  Several  were  obliged 
to  slip  or  out  their  cables  and  run  on  shore,  in 
order  to  avoid  greater  damage  ;  and  two  drifted 
down  with  the  ebb  tide,  and,  for  want  of  cables 
and  anchors,  were  totally  lost.  Providentially," 
says  Captain  Congar,  "  we  escaped  with  trifling 
injury.  From  the  commencement  of  the  voy- 
age we  have  been  accustomed  to  the  practice 
of  attending  religious  duties  as  often  as  possi- 
ble, and  I  am  happy  to  say  on  these  occasions 
the  crew  have  generally  behaved  with  great 
decorum  and  regularity.  But,  alas !  what  stu- 
pidity and  coldness  is  but  too  manifest  among 
us.  For  my  own  part,  I  am  constrained  to  ac- 
knowledge that,  after  all  my  professions  and  at- 
tainments, all  my  resolutions  and  hopes,  if  the 
spirit  of  grace  should  withdraw  from  me,  I  am 
undone ;  and  I  feel  convinced  that  heaven  can 
never  be  attained  by  my  own  strength  or  wis- 
dom. Oh  Lord !  preserve  me  from  that  luke- 
warmness,  and  its  dreadful  consequences,  with 
which  the  Church  of  the  Laodiceans  are  charg- 
ed, and  for  which  they  are  threatened;  and 
warm  my  heart  with  the  Savior's  love,  that  I 
may  not  merely  possess  the  form  of  godliness 


140  CAPTAIN    OBADIAH    CONGAK. 

while  destitute  of  the  power  thereof.  Oh  for 
the  constant  witness  of  the  Spirit  that  I  am 
born  of  God !  Let  my  hope  of  heaven  be  steady 
and  bright,  then  will  I  hold  on  in  the  way  of 
obedience,  and  wax  stronger  and  stronger." 


THROUGH  night,  and  clouds,  and  gloomy  fears, 

Though  dragons  often  roar, 
Yet  in  the  great  Redeemer's  strength 

I'll  press  to  Canaan's  shore. 
Methinks  I  now  begin  to  see 

The  borders  of  that  land ; 
The  trees  of  grace  with  heavenly  fruit 

In  beauteous  order  stand : 
The  wint'ry  time  will  soon  bo  gone, 

The  summer  soon  appear ; 
The  glorious  day  is  rolling  on, 

The  great  Sabbatic  year. 
Oh !  what  a  glorious  sight  appears 

To  my  believing  eyes ; 
Methinks  I  see  Jerusalem, 

A  city  in  the  skies. 
Oh !  that  my  faith  were  strong  to  rise, 

And  bear  my  soul  away, 
I'd  give  all  glory  to  the  Lamb, 

Through  everlasting  day. 


MI-I.I:  WORTHY  OP  IMITATION.       141 


CHAPTER  VII. 

CHRISTIAN    LIFE    AND    DUTIES    AT    SEA    CONTINUED. 

BOUGHT  by  Christ's  blood,  and  to  the  purchase  true, 
The  Christian  runs  with  cheerfulness  the  race 
Which  God  in  wisdom  bath  seen  fit  to  trace, 

Nor  turns,  some  other  object  to  pursue  ; 

Nor  slacks  bis  steadfast  course;  sometimes  he  sees 
Fires  in  his  path,  or  hears  the  serpent's  breath, 
Or  raging  men  with  implements  of  death, 

But  still  goes  on,  nor  like  the  coward  flees. 

The  road  is  strait  and  narrow ;  if  he  turns, 
Ruin  awaits  him ;  if  he  onward  gem, 

With  face  erect  and  heart  with  love  that  burns, 
However  great  the  obstacles,  he  knows 

That  God,  who  hath  all  power,  all  things  can  do, 

Will  guard  him  in  hi*  straits,  and  bear  him  glorious  through. 

Scripture  Sonnett. 

EARLY  in  the  year  1813  we  find  Captain  Con- 
gar  again  in  command  on  the  deep,  keeping  the 
Sabbatli  day  holy  before  his  crew,  and  so  act- 
ing as  their  minister  and  friend  as  to  secure 
their  good-will  and  hearty  concurrence  in  his 
measures  for  sanctifying  the  Lord's  day.  His 
voyages  were  in  a  high  degree  successful,  es- 
caping both  the  ordinary  dangers  of  the  sea  and 
those  from  hostile  privateers  and  cruisers.  He 
returned  to  share  in  the  remarkable  work  of 


142  CAPTAIN    OBADIAH    CONGAR. 

grace  which  was  then  in  progress  through  New 
Jersey  and  other  parts  of  the  Middle  States. 
He  entered  into  it  with  great  delight,  and  a 
manifest  refreshing  to  his  own  soul,  remarking 
respecting  it,  "  Thus  are  the  walls  of  the  spirit- 
ual Jerusalem  building  up  even  in  troublesome 
times." 

But  he  was  not  now  to  enjoy  it  long,  for  his 
employer  soon  informed  him  of  his  intention  to 
dispatch  the  ship  again  to  Lisbon.  "  I  could  have 
wished,"  he  says,  "  to  have  stayed  a  little  longer 
with  my  family  and  friends,  and  the  people  of 
God,  but  I  endeavored  to  submit  to  the  will  of 
Providence,  trusting  that  all  things  were  or- 
dered in  wisdom  and  in  mercy. 

"  Friday,  April  9th,  our  ship  being  loaded, 
and  seeing  but  little  prospect  of  getting  out  to 
sea  before  the  Sabbath,  my  mind  became  con- 
cerned to  know  how  far  it  would  be  consistent 
with  the  command  to  remember  the  Sabbath 
day  to  keep  it  holy,  to  proceed  on  the  voyage 
should  a  favorable  wind  offer  on  the  Sabbath. 
My  mind  had  been  more  or  less  exercised  on 
this  subject  for  a  long  time  past,  and  I  had 
come  to  this  conclusion,  that  when  no  unavoid- 
able occurrence  made  it  necessary,  we  ought  by 
all  means  to  refuse  commencing  the  voyage  on 
that  day,  which  was  not  only  set  apart  as  a  day 


A    NOBLE    RKdolATloN    TAKEN.  143 

of  worship,  but  as  a  day  of  rest  from  worldly 
concerns,  that  thy  man-servant  and  thy  maid- 
servant may  rest  as  well  as  thou. 

"  Sabbath  morning  arrived,  the  wind  was  fa- 
vorable, and  my  employer  anxious,  fearing  a 
blockade  from  the  British,  we  proceeded.  But, 
as  though  the  Lord  intended  to  show  us  that 
our  exertions  and  anxieties  were  fruitless,  when 
we  reached  Sandy  Hook  the  wind  became  un- 
favorable, and  continued  so  three  days.  I  now 
had  time  to  reflect  upon  what  we  had  done,  and 
In ii n  the  reasons  enjoined  in  the  Scriptures,  my 
own  feelings  on  the  subject,  and  the  remon- 
strances of  conscience,  I  formed  this  resolve, 
that,  through  the  assistance  of  divine  grace, 
should  I  ever  have  the  command  of  a  ship  of- 
fered me  again,  I  would,  at  the  same  time, 
give  my  employer  to  understand  my  determina- 
tion not  to  commence  the  voyage  on  a  day  clear- 
ly instituted  by  divine  wisdom  for  the  most  ex- 
alted employment  of  which  man  is  capable. 

"  The  same  evening  we  left  the  city,  we  com- 
menced attending  religious  duties  as  on  other 
voyages ;  and  although  on  each  voyage  some 
part  of  the  crew  were  strangers  to  me  and 
strangers  to  such  a  practice,  yet  they  mani- 
fested a  readiness  to  unite  in  these  duties,  which 
could  scarcely  have  been  expected."  This  was 


144  CAPTAIN    OBAD1AH    CONGAR. 

a  speedy  and  successful  voyage,  and  they  sailed 
again  from  the  Tagus,  homeward  bound,  June 
4th.  "We  had  all  been  very  healthy  while  in 
port,  but,  shortly  after  sailing,  almost  every  one 
of  the  crew  complained  of  bad  colds,  attended 
with  soreness  of  the  throat  and  pains  in  the 
bones ;  and,  among  the  rest,  I  had  an  attack  of 
the  same,  the  nature  of  which  assumed  the  char- 
acter of  the  influenza  as  nearly  as  any  other 
complaint.  Oh,  may  these  light  afflictions, 
which  are  but  for  a  moment,  work  for  us  a  far 
more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of  glory. 
How  very  just  are  the  remarks  of  an  ancient 
poet  on  the  good  of  evils  : 

One  week's  extremity  may  teach  us  more 

Than  long  prosperity  had  done  before  ; 

Death  is  forgotten  in  our  easy  state, 

But  troubles  mind  us  of  our  final  fate ; 

The  doing  ill  affects  us  not  with  fears, 

But  suffering  ill  brings  sorrow,  woe,  and  tears. 

"  It  is  not  easy  to  reflect  that  we  are  mortal, 
dying  creatures ;  that  we  are  liable  every  mo- 
ment to  be  crushed  before  the  moth  when  pros- 
perity, health,  and  ease  attend  us  constantly. 
How  salutary,  then,  are  afflictions.  Herein  we 
learn  our  absolute  and  entire  dependence  on 
God  for  all  things,  even  those  mercies  which 
by  reason  of  their  commonness  we  too  often 
overlook.  Herein  do  we  realize  the  vanitv  of 


HEALTHFUL  DISCIPLINE    OF    SICKNESS.       145 

sublunary  enjoyments,  and  how  little  comfort 
they  can  administer  in  a  time  of  trouble,  and 
thus,  through  divine  grace,  are  we  enabled  to 
seek  a  portion  in  a  better  world.  Nothing  so 
effectually  writes  vanity  on  all  things  beneath 
the  sun  as  afflictions.  Yet  there  is  a  real  good 
in  possessing  health,  wealth,  and  the  varied  and 
multiplied  comforts  of  a  kind  Providence.  The 
great  evil  arises  from  our  abuse  of,  or  an  inor- 
dinate attachment  to  these  gifts,  which  were 
not  designed  as  the  best  portion  Infinite  Love 
had  to  give ;  and  it  would  be  as  inconsistent 
for  us  to  consider  temporary  enjoyments  any 
thing  more  than  transient  comforts  afforded  us 
while  passing  through  the  journey  of  life  to  the 
haven  of  rest,  as  it  would  be  for  the  traveler  to 
sit  down  contented  with  the  first  commodious 
inn  he  might  stop  at,  and  say  I  am  fully  satis- 
fied with  what  I  find  here,  and  so  make  no 
further  attempts  to  prosecute  his  way,  though 
immense  wealth  was  ready  for  him  at  his  jour- 
ney's end. 

"  Methinks  I  can  now  join  the  Psalmist  and 
say,  '  It  was  good  for  me  that  I  was  afflicted.' 
One  great  mercy  it  would  be  the  highest  in- 
gratitude in  me  not  to  remember  and  acknowl- 
edge. The  Lord  has  graciously  been  pleased 
to  afford  me  pretty  generally,  during  my  pres- 
K 


140  CAI'TAIN     »!!. \IU.\II    CONGAR. 

ent  trouble,  a  comfortable  sense  of  his  Divine 
favor.  1  have  not  felt  over-anxious  about  the 
issue  of  this  disease  :  I  trust  I  feel  in  good 
measure  willing  the  Lord  should  do  with  me 
as  seemeth  good  in  his  sight.  I  am  entirely 
in  his  hands,  and  I  have  no  claim  on  goodness 
or  mercy.  Every  comfort  I  receive,  and  every 
hope  afforded  me,  I  consider  gratuitously  free 
and  undeserved.  But  alas !  how  many  errors 
and  imperfections  do  I  discover  in  my  heart  and 
life.  Affliction  bring*  about,  as  it  were,  a  sort 
of  court  of  inquiry  into  all  our  actions.  This 
we  approve,  and  that  we  condemn,  and  we  dis- 
cover many  failings  which  otherwise  would  nev- 
er have  been  detected. 

"  Thursday,  June  17th.  Through  the  infinite 
kindness  of  Him  who  restores  the  sick  and  pre- 
serves the  health  of  his  dependent  creatures, 
we  are  all  again  comfortable,  and  favored  with 
winds  and  pleasant  weather,  each  one  hoping 
soon  to  meet  his  friends  on  the  shores  of  Colum- 
bia. May  it  be  the  sincere  and  unreserved 
language  of  every  heart  on  board,  '  What  shall 
I  render  to  the  Lord  for  all  his  benefits  ?'  June 
27th.  This  day  I  have  entered  upon  the  forty- 
sixth  year  of  my  life.  Not  to  examine  what  I 
have  been  doing  the  whole  period  of  my  exist- 
ence, let  me  glance  over  my  temper  and  con- 


BIRTH-DAY   REVIEW   AND   EXAMINATION.      147 

duot  the  years  just  past,  if  by  these  means  I 
may  discover  whether  I  have  gone  forward  in 
the  divine  life,  or  whether  I  must  be  constrained 
to  draw  the  unfavorable  conclusion  of  the  re- 
verse. And  here  I  not  only  have  to  lament 
my  dullness,  and  shortcomings,  and  unprofit- 
ableness in  the  things  of  religion,  but,  in  too 
many  instances,  by  my  temper  and  behavior,  I 
fear  that  I  have  given  occasion  for  the  enemies 
of  religion  to  speak  reproachfully.  But  the 
Lord's  mercies  exceed  our  faults.  With  grati- 
tude I  desire  to  acknowledge  the  kindness  and 
patience  of  God  toward  rne  in  bearing  with  my 
infirmities,  and  affording  me  so  many  instances 
of  his  fatherly  care,  in  watching  over  my  life 
and  health,  and  bringing  me  to  the  commence- 
ment of  a  new  era  of  my  existence  in  circum- 
stances of  comfort  beyond  my  deserts,  and  so 
far  beyond  what  so  many  of  my  fellow-creat- 
ures enjoy  :  '  Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul !  and 
forget  not  all  his  benefits.' 

"  And  now,  since  through  that  same  mercy  and 
goodness  which  I  have  been  the  subject  of  from 
the  day  of  my  birth  am  I  again  entered  upon  a 
new  period  of  my  mortal  life,  what  engagements 
does  it  behoove  me  to  make  ;  what  resolutions 
to  form  ?  Surely  I  ought  to  love  the  Lord 
with  all  my  might  and  strength.  Every  fac- 


148         CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONOAR. 

ulty  should  be  swift  to  do  his  will.  May  I  then 
go  on,  in  the  strength  of  my  Redeemer,  to  every 
work  allotted  me,  taking  up  my  cross  daily. 
Oh  that  I  might  learn  habitually  to  deny  my- 
self, to  subdue  every  corrupt  passion,  and  thus 
be  preparing  for  the  society  of  those  blessed 
spirits  who,  with  one  heart  and  voice,  cease  not 
to  cry,  '  Holy,  holy  is  the  Lord  of  hosts ;  the 
whole  earth  is  full  of  thy  glory.'  Oh,  when 
shall  I  be  there  with  them !" 

By  faith  I  see  the  land, 

The  port  of  endless  rest : 
My  soul,  thy  sails  expand, 

And  fly  to  Jesus's  breast ! 
Oh,  may  I  reach  the  heavenly  shore, 
Where  winds  and  waves  distress  no  more  ! 

On  their  return  from  Lisbon,  being  warned 
by  a  frigate  and  privateer,  fallen  in  with  east 
of  Halifax,  not  to  attempt  New  York  or  the 
Sound,  they  put  in  to  Newport.  In  the  small 
town  of  Somerset,  not  far  from  there,  the  ship 
was  laid  up  and  crew  discharged,  the  prosecu- 
tion of  the  war  forbidding  any  farther  com- 
merce. For  eighteen  months  Captain  Congar 
was  now  at  home,  enjoying  highly  the  religious 
privileges  with  which  he  was  favored,  and  find- 
ing them  eminently  conducive  to  his  edifica- 
tion. In  order  that  he  might  be  useful  at  the 


SCHOOLMASTER  IN  WAR CAPTAIN'  IN  PEACE.  149 

same  time,  he  opened  a  school  at  his  own  house, 
which  he  continued  teaching  until  the  middle  of 
February,  1815,  when  we  find  it  thus  entered  in 
the  journal :  "  A  messenger  arrived  from  En- 
gland with  a  treaty  of  peace  between  Great  Brit- 
ain and  the  United  States,  concluded  at  Ghent, 
and  ratified  by  the  British  government.  This 
gratifying  news  was  received  throughout  the 
United  States  with  the  most  lively  sensibility, 
and  by  many  with  devout  thankfulness. 

"  I  now  began  to  turn  my  thoughts  once  more 
toward  the  sea,  and  in  a  few  days  received  a 
letter  from  my  late  employers  giving  me  to 
understand  they  had  a  ship,  the  command  of 
which  I  might  have  as  soon  as  the  ice  should 
dissolve  so  that  she  could  be  brought  down  the 
river  (being  then  at  Poughkeepsie,  about  eighty 
miles  above  New  York).  Having  dismissed 
my  school,  I  proceeded  on  my  way,  the  eight- 
eenth of  March,  to  take  charge  of  the  ship  Ni- 
agara, the  ice  in  the  river  being  principally 
broken  up.  In  about  a  week  we  returned  to 
New  York  with  the  ship,  and  almost  immedi- 
ately began  preparing  to  sail  for  New  Orleans. 
As  I  had  done  before,  so  soon  as  circumstances 
.  opened  a  way,  I  introduced  the  practice  of  at- 
tending religious  worship  on  the  Sabbath,  hav- 
ing a  number  of  passengers,  and  also  distribu- 


150        CAPTAIV  OBADIAH  CONUAH. 

ted  some  Bibles  among  the  crew,  supplied  me 
by  the  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  of  New  York, 
and  several  religious  tracts." 

They  reached  New  Orleans  safely  on  the  elev- 
enth of  June,  and  left  again  for  Liverpool  on  the 
twenty-eighth,  "  happy  in  the  prospect  of  being 
not  only  relieved  from  the  oppression  of  the 
heat,  but  from  being  annoyed  by  the  muske- 
toes,  which,  for  the  time  we  were  coming  down 
the  river,  seemed  almost  insupportable. 

"  Soon  after  being  at  sea,  I  informed  the  crew 
it  was  my  intention  to  attend  religious  ivorship 
morning'  and  evening'  of  every  day  token  the 
weather  and  other  circumstances  would  permit, 
giving  them  to  understand,  at  the  same  time, 
that  I  wished  them  to  feel  perfectly  at  liberty 
to  attend  on  these  occasions,  or  to  omit  if  they 
thought  proper,  recommending  to  them,  how- 
ever, the  diligent  use  of  the  means  of  grace  as 
the  most  likely  way  to  obtain  the  pardon  of  sin, 
and  insure  the  Divine  blessing  on  the  work  of 
our  hands. 

"  Sometimes  I  would  take  opportunity  to 
exhort  them  to  repentance  and  to  forsake  their 
sins,  endeavoring  to  show  them,  in  my  feeble 
manner,  the  dreadfulness  of  lying  under  the 
curse  of  God,  and  recommending  religion  as  the 
only  thing  to  prepare  us  to  live  or  die,  setting 


mm   vi  -i  \  151 

forth  the  reasonableness  of  the  Divine  com- 
mands, and  the  wickedness  and  folly  of  rebel- 
ling against  the  God  of  heaven  and  earth.  The 
Lord  is  a  sovereign ;  with  him  I  desire  to  leave 
my  endeavors  to  promote  religion  among  my 
fellow-seamen.  If  he  should  see  fit  to  make 
me  an  instrument  of  good  to  any  who  sail  with 
me,  to  his  name  be  all  the  glory. 

"  Friday,  July  28th.  This  birth-day  my  soul 
is  bowed  down  under  a  sense  of  my  sin,  and  I 
go  mourning  all  the  day.  Alas  !  for  my  follies 
the  past  year.  But  oh  !  the  mercies  bestowed 
by  a  covenant  God.  How  many  of  my  coun- 
trymen have  fallen  in  battle ;  how  many  fami- 
lies have  been  driven  from  their  homes;  how 
many  suffered  to  run  into  evils  and  temptations, 
while  I  have  been  preserved  and  delivered  from 
the  snare  of  the  fowler.  Divine  Savior,  keep 
me  still  by  thy  power,  through  faith  unto  sal- 
vation. But  oh !  my  inconstant  heart !  What 
abundant  reason  have  I  to  distrust  it  ?  Surely 
it  is  deceitful  above  all  things,  and  desperately 
wicked ;  who  can  know  it  ?  What  a  wonder 
of  grace  that  I  am  spared.  Oh  Lord,  give  me 
not  only  repentance  for  all  my  sins,  but  give  me 
faith  in  thy  blood,  that  I  may  always  apply  to 
that  all-sufficient  fountain,  wash,  and  be  clean." 

They  reached  Liverpool  safely,  but  soon  aft- 


152        CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

er  leaving  for  New  York  a  heavy  gale  overtook 
them,  during  which  they  found  it  difficult  to 
keep  off  the  land.  "  In  this  perilous  time," 
says  Captain  Congar,  "I  called  the  crew  to- 
gether, expressed  to  them  my  fears  for  our  safe- 
ty, and  besought  them  to  join  me  in  imploring 
mercy  and  Divine  protection  from  shipwreck ; 
and,  blessed  be  that  God  whose  ears  are  always 
open  to  the  cries  of  the  needy  who  put  their 
trust  in  him,  we  were  saved  from  all  our  fears. 
The  winds  moderated  and  became  more  favor- 
able, and  we  proceeded  on  our  way." 

The  ensuing  whiter  of  1815-16  was  spent 
at  home ;  but  in  June  Captain  Congar  is  put 
in  charge  of  the  ship  Phocion  by  his  old  em- 
ployers, and  dispatched  to  Lisbon  and  St.  Ubes, 
whither  he  takes  his  wife  with  him,  and  arrives 
back  from  a  successful  voyage  on  the  twenty- 
sixth  of  September,  1816.  At  its  close  he 
says,  "According  to  our  usual  practice,  we  at- 
tended our  religious  duties  on  board,  and  I  hope 
not  without  some  good  effect.  The  crew,  when 
paid  off,  very  liberally  put  into  my  hands  thir- 
teen dollars  for  the  New  York  Bible  Society." 

Immediately  after  discharging  cargo,  the 
Phocion  was  ordered  again  to  Wilmington, 
North  Carolina,  and  thence  to  Hull,  England. 
On  the  passage  we  find  this  entry :  "  Sabbath, 


EUROPEAN   VOYAGE  IN  THE  PHOCIUN.     153 

April  13th,  1817.  This  day,  the  weather  be- 
ing  fine,  we  had  a  more  favorable  opportunity 
to  attend  religious  duties  than  usual.  Accord- 
ing to  my  imperfect  manner,  I  read  the  Scrip- 
tures, exhorted,  admonished,  and  prayed  with 
my  crew.  They  attended  with  decency  of  con- 
duct; and  I  still  hope,  through  the  Divine  mer- 
cy, that  my  feeble  efforts  to  be  some  way  useful 
to  my  fellow-seamen  will  not  be  altogether  in 
vain.  But  oh,  my  soul,  what  art  thon  doing  ? 
Thou  teachest  others ;  teachest  thou  not  thy- 
self? I  am  indeed  in  heaviness  through  mani- 
fold temptations.  'Oh  Lord,  undertake  for 
me,  and  deliver  me ;  so  shall  I  praise  thy  name.' 
"  Friday,  18th.  Oh !  how  shall  sinners  stand 
at  the  bar  of  God  to  answer  for  the  deeds  done 
in  the  body  ?  '  If  my  heart  condemn  me,  God  is 
greater  than  my  heart,  and  knoweth  all  things.' 
How  little  do  we  know  of  ourselves,  except  the 
Spirit  of  truth  open  our  eyes  to  see  the  extent 
of  the  Divine  commands,  and  to  see  what  a  holy 
Being  we  have  to  do  with.  If  I  were  called  to 
an  account  for  my  neglects  of  duty  to  my  fel- 
low-creatures, what  could  I  answer  ?  Alas ! 
how  numberless  have  been  my  failures.  How 
unfaithful  to  my  wife,  in  not  admonishing  with 
meekness,  how  little  concerned  for  her  ever- 
lasting welfare.  1  am  distressed  lest  she  should 


154  CAPTAIN    OBAD1AH    COXGAR. 


perish  through  my  criminal  indifference  for  her 
soul's  salvation.  Oh,  how  little  charity,  how 
little  true  benevolence  for  men !  How  faint  my 
zeal  for  the  Redeemer's  kingdom,  except  the 
Divine  life  be  maintained  in  the  soul.  '  Woe  to 
them  that  are  at  ease  in  Zion,  that  trust  in  the 
mountain  of  Samaria.'  Too  long  have  I  been 
at  ease,  and  trusted  in  my  own  righteousness. 
"  How  dangerous  is  prosperity,  either  in  tem- 
poral or  spiritual  things.  '  Surely  I  am  more 
brutish  than  any  man,  and  have  not  the  under- 
standing of  a  man.'  O  Lord,  if  prosperity 
cause  me  to  wander  from  thee,  let  me  never 
have  prosperity  while  I  live.  Keep  me  by  thy 
grace  in  the  valley  of  humiliation.  Deep  hu- 
mility best  becomes  so  great  a  sinner.  Oh, 
rather  let  me  go  softly  all  my  years,  in  the  bit- 
terness of  my  soul,  than  that  I  should  be  lifted 
up  with  spiritual  pride,  and  forget  God.  April 
24th.  I  am  made  to  feel  that  sin  is  a  great 
evil,  and  to  realize  that  the  Lord  is  a  God  of 
knowledge,  and  by  him  actions  are  weighed. 
How  desirable  is  it  to  have  a  comfortable  sense 
that  our  sins  are  forgiven ;  but,  alas  for  me ! 
what  right  have  I  to  look  for  comfort?  My 
backslidings  reprove  me,  and  I  am  made  to  pos- 
sess the  iniquities  of  my  youth.  The  precious 
volume  of  inspiration  is,  indeed,  full  of  conde- 


IIEAVEXWARD    HOPES    AND    ASPIRATION*.     155 

scending  and  gracious  invitations  to  sinners  to 
return  to  their  offended  Sovereign.  I  would 
endeavor,  through  Divine  assistance,  still  to 
hope  in  the  mercy  of  God  through  Jesus  Christ. 
Blessed  be  his  name  that  we  read  that  he  came 
to  save  them  who,  through  fear  of  death,  were 
all  their  lifetime  subject  to  bondage,  and  that 
he  suffered,  being  tempted,  that  he  might  suc- 
cor them  that  are  tempted." 


1  CLEARS*  me,  O  Lord,  and  cheer  my  tool 

With  thy  forgiving  love ; 
O  make  my  broken  spirit  whole, 

And  bid  my  pain*  remove. 
Let  not  thy  Spirit  quite  depart, 

Nor  drive  me  from  thy  face ; 
Create  anew  my  vicious  heart, 

And  611  it  with  thy  grace. 
Then  will  I  make  thy  mercy  known 

Before  the  sons  of  men ; 
Backsliders  shall  address  thy  throne, 

And  tarn  to  God  again." 


156  CAPTAIN    OBADIAH   CONGAU. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

PECULIAR  RELIGIOUS  EXERCISES  AND  ORIGINAL  COR- 
RESPONDENCE WITH  REV.  THOMAS  SCOTT. 

THUS  from  the  Elect,  regenerate  through  faith, 
Pass  the  dark  passions,  and  what  thirsty  cares 
Drink  up  the  spirit.     Lo !  they  vanish,  or  acquire 
New  names,  new  features — by  supernal  grace 
Enrobed  with  light,  and  naturalized  in  heaven. 
Who  feeds  and  saturates  his  soul  with  love, 
He  from  his  small  particular  orbit  flies 
With  bless'd  outstarting  !     From  himself  he  flies, 
Stands  in  the  sun,  and  with  no  partial  gaze 
Views  all  creation :  and  he  loves  it  all, 
And  blesses  it,  and  calls  it  very  good  ! 

COLERIDGE. 

THE  year  1817,  while  it  was  distinguished  in 
the  religious  annals  of  America  for  the  extraor- 
dinary working  of  the  Holy  Spirit  throughout 
the  churches,  was  a  year  of  great  heart-search- 
ing and  anxiety  for  souls  on  the  part  of  Captain 
Congar.  He  seems  to  have  been  exercised 
with  very  affecting  views  of  the  sinfulness  of 
sin,  and  the  holiness  of  God,  and  the  fearful 
liability  of  the  soul  in  a  state  of  condemnation. 
The  burden  of  souls  often  lay  like  a  mountain 
of  iron  upon  his  own  breast.  His  anxiety  for 
the  salvation  of  his  wife,  who  was  not  ono  with 


ANXIETIES    FOR    BOUL8    AT    SEA.  157 

him  in  the  hopes,  and  joys,  and  desires  of  the 
Christian,  was,  as  it  will  appear  in  this  chapter, 
deep  and  absorbing,  while  it  was  altogether  so- 
ber and  rational,  and  set  him  upon  the  use  of 
proper  means  of  grace  and  awakening. 

On  the  twenty-fifth  of  April  we  find  the 
following  entry  in  his  journal,  being  at  sea  : 
"  This  day  my  soul  is  full  of  heaviness,  my 
heart  within  me  is  desolate.  If  this  be  the 
fruit  of  sin  in  this  life,  oh  how  dreadful  to  lay 
under  the  weight  of  God's  wrath  through  an 
endless  eternity  !  and  yet  it  would  be  just  for 
me  to  be  dealt  with  in  this  awful  manner.  If 
I  be  saved,  what  a  monument  of  mercy  !  what 
a  miracle  of  grace  !  How  often  has  the  lan- 
guage of  my  heart  been,  in  its  pride,  such  as 
this,  '  That  I  am  rich,  and  increased  in  goods, 
and  have  need  of  nothing ;  and  knew  not  that 
I  was  wretched,  and  miserable,  and  poor,  and 
blind,  and  naked.'  But  the  glorious  Redeem- 
er," says  he,  "  '  stands  at  the  door  and  knocks ; 
and  if  any  man  hear  his  voice  and  open  the 
door,  he  will  come  in  to  him,  and  sup  with  him, 
and  he  shall  sup  with  me.'  Oh !  may  my  heart 
be  opened  to  receive  the  heavenly  guest,  and 
may  he  abide  with  me,  and  may  I  abide  in 
him.  But  ah  !  the  deceitfulness  of  the  human 
heart ;  T  only  know  that  I  am  anxiously  seek- 


158  CAPTAIN   OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

ing  to  be  delivered  from  the  burden  of  sin.  But 
here  again  I  am  encouraged ;  the  blessed  Savior 
says,  '  The  whole  need  not  a  physician,  but  they 
that  are  sick.  I  came  not  to  call  the  righteous, 
but  sinners  to  repentance.' ': 

Here  follow  a  course  of  letters  to  Mrs.  Con- 
gar,  written  on  ship-board,  when  travailing  with 
desire  for  her  soul. 

"  At  sea,  March  25th,  1817. 

"  MY  DEAR  WIFE, — The  emotions  of  my 
heart,  excited  by  our  late  parting,  under  circum- 
stances somewhat  afflicting,  have  caused  deep 
anxiety  in  my  soul  for  your  present  and  future 
welfare.  Were  I  to  strive,  I  could  not  erase 
from  my  mind  those  solemn  scenes  which  I 
have  witnessed  within  a  few  months  past.  You 
have  indeed  been  an  afflicted  woman  for  a 
course  of  years,  but,  in  some  instances  of  late, 
your  distress  appeared  next  to  insupportable. 
You  seemed  like  one  in  a  perfect  agony  ;  your 
expressions  of  horror,  your  cries  for  mercy,  the 
convulsions  of  your  body,  rent  my  very  youl, 
while  I  endeavored  to  supplicate  the  throne  of 
grace  in  your  behalf. 

"  And  now,  O  my  dear  wife,  how  can  I  prove 
a  sincere  regard  for  your  good  better  than  by 
entreating  you  earnestly  to  consider  what  you 
should  do  ?  You  have  seen  how  easy  it  would 


AFFECTING    PERSUASIVES    TO    PIETY.         159 

be  for  the  Lord  to  out  you  off.  You  have  had 
numberless  instances  of  frailty,  and  must  we 
not  allow  that  sin  is  the  procuring  cause  of  all 
our  sufferings?  You  may,  indeed,  live  many 
years,  but  it  can  not  be  looked  for  according  to 
the  course  of  things.  Your  constitution  and 
health  are  so  far  impaired,  and  you  are  subject 
to  such  violent  and  complicated  disorders,  that 
it  often  appears  to  me  like  a  miracle  that  you 
have  survived  such  dreadful  shocks,  and  yet 
live.  I  beseech  you,  therefore,  no  longer  delay 
the  great  concerns  of  your  immortal  soul. 

"  You  have  been  deeply  afflicted  about  your 
situation  in  the  time  of  your  distress.  Your 
language  was  such  as  the  following  :  '  If  I  was 
prepared  to  die,  I  should  not  wish  to  live  one 
moment ;  but  oh !  I  am  not  prepared  to  die. 
Father  of  mercies,  Father  of  mercies,  spare 
me ;  have  mercy  on  me !  O  that  I  was  pre- 
pared to  die.  (Addressing  yourself  to  me),  Can 
you  do  nothing  for  me  ?  I  must  die :'  and  such 
like. 

"  You  know  that  something  is  necessary  to 
be  done  to  fit  you  to  die  ;  but  yon  do  not  know 
how  long  space  of  repentance  will  be  granted. 
The  Lord  Jesus  is  willing  and  able  to  save  any 
sinner  who  will  come  to  him  with  a  broken 
In-art.  If  you  find  your  heart  is  hard  and  un- 


160        CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

humbled,  beg  of  him  to  give  you  a  new  heart, 
and  to  not  leave  you  to  yourself  and  the  tempt- 
ations of  Satan.  We  do  need  his  blood  to 
cleanse  us  from  all  our  sins.  If  you  die  in 
your  sins,  where  he  is  you  can  not  come.  And 
oh  !  what  mortal  on  this  side  eternity  can  con- 
ceive how  dreadful  it  will  be  to  possess  a  heart 
at  enmity  with  God  and  all  holy  beings  for- 
ever, and  to  be  a  companion  of  devils  and  wick- 
ed spirits.  If  we  could  not  endure  the  society 
of  some  disagreeable  character  a  day  or  an  hour, 
how  could  we  endure  to  be  shut  up  to  all  eter- 
nity with  those  we  hate,  and  where  there  is 
nothing  but  weeping,  and  wailing,  and  gnash- 
ing of  teeth  ? 

"  But  I  forbear.  You  are  highly  favored  with 
the  means  of  grace,  and  you  have  many  pious 
friends  with  whom  you  may  converse.  Al- 
though I  have  been  sadly  negligent  in  the 
things  of  religion,  yet  I  firmly  believe  nothing 
else  can  afford  true  happiness  here,  or  secure  our 
peace  with  God  beyond  the  grave.  I  am  now 
going  three  thousand  miles  from  you.  We  can 
not  fathom  the  dispensations  of  Providence. 
Whether  we  shall  be  permitted  to  see  each  oth- 
er's face  in  the  land  of  the  living  is  to  us  un- 
known. I  beg  you,  then,  not  to  take  offense  at 
what  I  have  hinted,  but  accept  it  as  a  token  of 


MOVING  PLEAS  AND  EXPOSTULATIONS.   161 

my  affectionate  regartLfor  your  peace  and  hap- 
piness. I  feel  much  for  you.  I  endeavor  to 
pray  for  you.  May  the  Lord  grant  you  mercy, 
for  his  name's  sake." 

"  Thursday,  March  27th. 

"  MY  DEAR  WIFE, — What  can  I  do  better 
than  write  you,  who,  though  absent  in  body,  yet 
are  present  in  mind  ?  I  am  sensible  of  your 
case.  It  calls  for  compassion.  You  have  read 
the  lives  of  martyrs.  You  see  how  triumphant- 
ly they  left  this  vain  world.  The  sting  of  death 
was  taken  away.  They  had  no  fears  beyond 
the  grave.  They  even  longed  to  depart  when 
they  knew  that  they  were  to  be  thrown  to  the 
wild  beasts.  The  grace  of  the  Lord  Jesus  made 
them  what  they  were  ;  and  he  is  as  ready  now 
to  give  his  grace  to  any  who  will  seek  it  with 
humility,  as  in  those  days  of  martyrdom. 

"  We  need  this  divine  principle.  The  whole 
soul  must  be  renovated.  The  heart  must  be 
purified  by  faith.  We  must  have  a  relish  for 
heavenly  things.  And  we  need  not,  like  Dives, 
desire  that  one  might  be  sent  from  the  dead  to 
show  to  us  the  realities  of  the  invisible  world. 
We  have  better  testimony  in  the  Bible  than  any 
mere  man  could  give.  In  that  precious  volume, 
while  sinners  are  warned  against  the  danger  of 
perishing  through  obstinate  unbelief,  they  are 
L 


162        CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

encouraged  to  apply  for  mercy  through  the  great 
Redeemer's  blood. 

"Oh!  let  not  Satan  tempt  you  to  despond- 
ency. It  is  one  of  his  devices  to  ruin  souls. 
Desponding  melanoholy  will  never  save  us, 
though  we  should  indulge  it  to  all  eternity. 
We  want  no  other  evidence  than  the  Bible  af- 
fords that  the  Lord  is  gracious,  willing,  and  able 
to  save,  even  those  who  have  sinned  against  him 
until  the  eleventh  hour.  Such  is  the  grace  of 
the  Gospel  that  none  need  despair.  The  bless- 
ed Savior  has  a  compassionate  heart.  It  was 
this  that  moved  him  to  die  for  sinners,  and  he 
has  not  promised  more  than  he'will  perform. 
He  says,  'Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  are  weary 
and  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest.' 

"  But  oh  !  how  hard  is  it  to  humble  ourselves 
before  God.  How  long  will  the  rebellious  tem- 
per of  fallen  man  refuse  to  submit  ?  May  we 
remember  that  we  can  not  contend  against  an 
Almighty  arm  and  prosper.  We  shall  be  con- 
strained to  submit  willingly,  and  be  happy,  or 
unwillingly,  and  be  miserable. 

"  Now  is  the  time  he  bends  his  ear, 

And  waits  for  your  request ; 
Come,  lest  he  rouse  his  wrath,  and  swear 
You  shall  not  see  my  rest. 


CLAIMS   OK  EELIGIUN   TO    INSTANT   REGARD.    163 

"  Thursday,  April  3d. 

"  MY  DEAR  WIFE, — From  the  fullness  of  my 
heart  I  write.  I  tremble  to  think  of  the  solemn 
circumstances  in  which  we  are.  I  beseech  you, 
let  not  the  long-suffering  and  patience  of  God 
induce  you  to  put  far  off  eternal  things.  You 
know  that  for  several  years  I  have  been  a  pro- 
fessor of  religion.  You  have  seen  me  in  great 
distress  of  mind,  and,  again,  you  have  witness- 
ed my  joy,  as  I  then  trusted  in  God  my  Savior. 
But  oh !  my  sins  have  separated  between  God 
and  my  soul,  and  I  often  fear  I  have  been  de- 
ceiving myself.  We  have  now  lived  in  the  mar- 
riage relation  more  than  twenty  years.  Alas ! 
how  little  have  we  done  for  each  other's  ever- 
lasting welfare.  As  we  are  united  in  the  bonds 
of  matrimony,  we  ought  to  have  been  united 
in  serving  God.  We  are  in  a  world  of  sin  and 
temptation.  We  need  each  other's  counsel,  we 
need  each  other's  prayers. 

"  I  hope  and  pray  these  lines  may  find  you 
in  health.  If  so,  be  not  flattered  thereby. 
Health  is  precarious.  Improve  it  to  prepare 
for  a  time  of  affliction,  and  to  prepare  for  death. 
We  can  not  live  without  the  favor  of  God.  We 
can  only  look  for  this  by  deep  and  humble  re- 
pentance for  all  our  sins,  and  an  unfeigned  faith 
in  the  blessed  Redeemer.  It  is  matter  of  ever- 


CAPTAIN    OBAUIAII    CONGAR. 


lasting  praise  that  the  great  Jehovah  should 
condescend  to  invite  such  rebellious  creatures 
to  return  to  him.  Rather  might  he  not  justly 
have  left  us  to  perish  without  hope  ?  Why, 
then,  should  we  slight  such  love  and  grace  ? 

"  Every  thing  has  been  done  that  was  neces- 
sary to  open  a  way  for  God  to  be  propitious  to 
our  fallen  race.  What  can  we  promise  our- 
selves from  sin  or  the  world  ?  Have  we  not 
seen  enough  to  satisfy  us  that  we  must  not  look 
here  for  true  enjoyment?  Were  our  hearts 
right  with  God,  we  should  take  a  sacred  pleas- 
ure in  contemplating  his  divine  glories  and  per- 
fections. His  commandments  would  not  be 
burdensome  and  grievous.  The  angels  in  heav- 
en take  a  sacred  pleasure  in  serving  their  Cre- 
ator, and  ought  not  we  of  the  footstool  to  esteem 
it  our  highest  privilege  to  be  thus  employed  ? 
.  "  But  ah  !  we  have  a  body  of  sin  and  death. 
This  must  be  mortified  ;  our  corrupt  passions 
be  regulated,  our  wills  subdued,  and  our  whole 
souls  transformed  into  the  image  of  God.  We 
must  be  born  again. 

"  Oh  !  then,  let  us  give  ourselves  no  rest  or 
peace  until  we  can  entertain  some  rational  hope 
that  our  sins  are  pardoned,  and  our  names  writ- 
ten in  the  Lamb's  book  of  life. 


AFFECTING    CONSIDERATIONS    ENFORCED.    165 
"  Sunday,  April  13tb. 

"  MY  DEAR  WIFE, — Though  ignorant  of  what 
has  befallen  you  since  we  parted,  I  still  hope,  by 
this  time,  you  are  returned  safe  to  the  bosom 
of  your  connections  and  friends.  If  so,  reflect 
on  the  goodness  and  mercy  of  God  in  sparing 
your  life,  preserving  you  from  the  perils  of  the 
deep,  succoring  you  under  your  sore  afflictions, 
and  restoring  you  to  the  society  of  your  dear 
friends  once  more.  And  while  your  soul  is  fill- 
ed with  gratitude  for  these  temporal  mercies, 
oh  !  ponder  with  humble  admiration  on  the 
greatness  of  that  grace  which  moved  the  coun- 
sels of  eternal  wisdom  to  provide  a  ransom  for 
sinners. 

"  You  are  in  a  place  highly  favored  with  the 
blessings  of  the  Gospel,  and  this  is  a  day  of  the 
Lord1s  merciful  visitation.  He  is,  no  doubt, 
calling  many  who  have  long  been  the  subjects 
of  Satan  into  his  kingdom  !  Oh !  let  us  fear, 
lest  a  promise  being  left  us  of  entering  into  his 
rest,  we  should  come  short  of  it.  Consider  that 
by  nature  we  have  evil  hearts  of  unbelief,  prone 
to  depart  from  the  living  God,  and  that  we  can 
not  return  to  him  by  our  own  strength. 

' '  Time  is  precious,  and  our  souls  are  of  in- 
finite value.  What  if  our  whole  lives  had  been 
spent  in  the  service  of  our  Maker,  we  should 


166        CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  COXGAR. 

have  done  but  our  duty,  and  we  should  have 
suffered  no  loss,  for  wisdom's  ways  are  ways  of 
pleasantness.  The  yoke  of  Christ  is  easier  to 
bear  than  the  yoke  of  Satan.  Satan  is  a  hard 
master.  He  oppresses  and  destroys  his  sub- 
jects ;  but  Christ  protects,  supports,  and  com- 
forts them  which  belong  to  his  kingdom,  and  will 
finally  conduct  them  to  never-ending  felicity. 

"  But,  alas  for  me !  how  often  have  I  will- 
ingly subjected  myself  to  the  service  of  Satan. 
Why  was  I  seduced  by  the  great  deceiver  ?  I 
lament  my  follies  past,  and  I  would  mourn 
over  them ;  but  I  must  remember  that  my  re- 
pentance can  not  make  amends.  I  never  can 
pay  the  debt  which  I  have  contracted.  If  Christ 
be  my  surety  and  pay  the  debt,  I  shall  have  a 
discharge ;  my  sins  and  iniquities  will  be  re- 
membered no  more  against  me  ;  if  otherwise,  I 
must  pay  the  debt  by  everlasting  torments. 
May  the  mercy  of  God  be  extended,  that  I  may 
not  come  into  this  condemnation  ! 

"  MY  DEAR  MARY, — I  often  feel  deeply  distress- 
ed in  my  mind  lest  I  should  never  be  permitted 
to  see  your  face  again  in  the  land  of  the  living., 
I  have  been  so  unfaithful,  have  done  so  little 
for  your  everlasting  interest,  and  in  many  in- 
stances, I  fear,  have  done  much  to  prejudice 
your  mind  against  religion.  Have  I  lived  only 


LOVE    EXPRESSED    AND    SIN    BEWAILED.      167 

to  harden  you  in  sin  ?  We  have  traveled  to- 
gether  many  leagues  over  the  boundless  ocean, 
and  have  seen  much  of  the  wonders  of  God  in 
the  deep.  Why  have  we  not  been  excited 
thereby  to  strive  more  to  serve  God  and  seek 
each  other's  happiness  ?  In  the  light  of  eterni- 
ty we  shall  discover  things  very  different  from 
what  we  now  do.  Oh,  I  beseech  yon,  recollect 
the  scenes  we  have  passed  through,  reflect  upon 
the  goodness  of  God,  and  seek  first  of  all  his 
kingdom  and  righteousness,  and  ail  other  things 
shall  be  added  unto  you. 

"Friday,  April  18th. 

"Mr  DEAR  WIFE, — Oh,  how  shall  sinners 
stand  at  the  bar  of  God  to  answer  for  the  deeds 
done  in  the  body  ?  '  If  our  hearts  condemn  us, 
God  is  greater  than  our  hearts,  and  knoweth  all 
things.'  Ho'w  little  do  we  know  of  ourselves, 
except  the  Spirit  of  truth  open  our  eyes  to  see 
the  extent  of  the  Divine  command,  and  to  see 
what  a  holy  Being  we  have  to  do  with.  If  we 
were  called  to  an  account  for  our  neglects  of 
duty  to  each  other  and  to  our  fellow-creatures, 
what  could  we  answer  ?  Alas  !  how  numberless 
have  been  our  failures ;  how  little  true  benevo- 
lence to  man  ;  how  infinite  our  shortcomings  to 
God. 

"  I  deeply  bewail  my  want  of  charity  to  you, 


108  CAPTAIN    OI1AD1A1I    CONUAR. 

and  the  many  instances  of  my  conduct  which, 
I  fear,  have  been  a  stumbling-block  to  you  and 
others.  But  let  us  leave  the  things  that  are 
behind,  and  press  toward  the  mark  for  the 
prize  of  the  high  calling  of  God  in  Christ  Je- 
sus. I  have  written  to  you  briefly  and  but  in 
part  of  my  thoughts  concerning  you.  Your 
sore  afflictions  have  excited  my  tendercst  sym- 
pathy. Could  I  now  be  certain  you  are  once 
more  returned  to  the  bosom  of  your  friends,  per- 
haps my  anxieties  would  in  some  degree  abate ; 
but  still  you  would  be  in  the  hands  of  a  just 
God,  who  marks  all  our  ways,  and  whose  long- 
suffering  will  not  always  bear  with  our  sins. 
Oh,  then,  return  to  him  and  make  your  peace, 
and  thereby  good  shall  come  unto  thee. 

"  What  an  invaluable  treasure  is  the  volume 
of  inspiration.  The  whole  tenor  of  its  language 
is,  '  Let  the  wicked  forsake  his  way,  and  the 
unrighteous  man  his  thoughts;  and  let  him  re- 
turn unto  the  Lord,  and  he  will  have  mercy 
upon  him,  and  to  our  God,  for  he  will  abund- 
antly pardon.'  I  was  particularly  struck  witli 
the  condescending  and  gracious  manner  in  which 
sinners  are  invited  to  return  to  their  offended 
Sovereign  by  the  Prophet  Jeremiah,  in  the  third 
chapter  and  first  verse  :  '  They  say  if  a  man  put 
away  his  wife,  and  she  go  from  him  and  become 


THE    WAW  OF   GOD    AND    THOSE    OF   MAN.    109 

another  man's,  shall  ho  return  unto  her  again  ? 
Shall  not  that  land  be  greatly  polluted  ?  But 
thou  hast  played  the  harlot  with  many  lovers ; 
yet  return  again  to  me,  saith  the  Lord.' 

"  And,  moreover,  he  expostulates  with  us  in 
the  most  kind  and  endearing  language :  '  Oh, 
my  people,  what  have  I  done  unto  thee?  and 
wherein  have  I  wearied  thee  ?  Testify  against 
me.' 

"  Why  are  such  methods  used  to  bring  rebel- 
lious sinners  back  to  God?  Why  should  we 
be  treated  thus?  We  can  only  say  because 
the  Lord's  ways  are  higher  than  our  ways,  as 
the  heavens  are  above  the  earth.  Methinks  I 
never  before  had  such  solemn  reflections  on  the 
importance  of  the  marriage  relation  with  refer- 
ence to  eternity  as  I  now  have.  How  seldom 
do  we  consider  that  our  conduct  toward  each 
other  will  be  the  means  of  promoting  our  ever- 
lasting  felicity  or  enhancing  our  never-ending 
woe.  We  too  often  live  as  though  we  were  to 
have  no  existence  beyond  the  grave.  Is  it  not 
to  bo  feared  that  many  a  day  has  passed  since 
our  connection  without  ever  once  entertaining 
a  single  thought  about  each  other's  salvation  ? 
How  seldom  do  we  consider  the  importance  of 
example.  Alas !  how  much  idle  conversation. 
May  the  Lord  forgive,  and,  if  we  be  spared  to 


170        CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

meet  again,  enable  us  to  act  more  consistently 
with  our  mutual  engagements,  and  with  the 
duties  which  we  owe  to  our  great  Creator. 

"  How  different  has  been  our  conduct  to  each 
other  from  what  is  enjoined  by  the  apostle  to 
the  Ephesians,  5th  chapter,  from  the  21st  verse 
to  the  end,  and  in  the  3d  chapter,  first  epistle 
of  Peter,  from  the  beginning  to  the  9th  verse. 
Have  we  not  too  much  reason  to  lament  deeply 
our  want  of  meekness,  and  kindness,  and  long- 
suffering,  and  charity  ?  But  oh,  where  will  the 
catalogue  of  failures  in  duty  end?  We  must 
look  to  Sovereign  grace  to  pardon  and  wash 
away  all  our  faults  in  the  atoning  blood  of  the 
great  Redeemer." 

His  benevolent  care  for  and  sympathy  with 
his  passengers  appear  frequently  on  his  return 
voyage  from  Hull  with  a  complement  of  fifty  ; 
and  they  place  the  prudent  and  religious  ship- 
master in  an  attractive  light,  and  worthy  of  im- 
itation. Near  the  close  of  the  passage  there  is 
an  entry  to  this  effect:  "  Getting  near  the  land, 
as  we  supposed,  one  of  the  passengers,  a  lad 
named  Thomas  Jackson,  thirteen  years  of  age, 
went  up  into  the  main-top,  with  a  view  to  look 
for  land,  and  shortly  after  fell  from  thence  on 
deck,  and  instantly  expired.  This  was  an  af- 
fecting stroke  to  his  aged  parents,  as  he  was  the 


DEATH    AT    SEA — REVIVAL    ASHORE.          171 

only  child  they  had  with  them,  and  on  whose 
account  principally  they  had  left  their  native 
land.  It  pierced  my  own  heart,  and  I  deeply 
mourned  for  them.  But  God  only  could  bind 
up  the  broken  heart." 

Arrived  safely  in  port,  and  returning  to  New- 
ark, he  had  the  pleasure  to  hear  that  a  very  ex- 
tensive revival  of  religion  had  taken  place  dur- 
ing his  absence,  so  that  upward  of  two  hund- 
red and  fifty  had  been  added  to  the  different 
churches  in  that  place  ;  and  there  were  still 
new  cases  of  awakenings.  He  prayed  with 
fervor,  "  May  this  glorious  work  continue  and 
spread  until  the  kingdoms  and  nations  of  this 
world  shall  become  the  kingdoms  and  nations 
of  our  Lord  and  of  his  Christ." 

We  now  turn  a  leaf  in  Captain  Congar's  his- 
tory that  will  be  perused  with  no  ordinary  in- 
terest and  profit  by  all  conscientious  Sabbath- 
keeping  mariners.  It  opens  thus  on  a  voyage 
to  Liverpool,  undertaken  immediately  after  his 
last  arrival  from  Hull : 

"  Sabbath  day,  the  7th  of  September.  Last 
evening  the  weather  had  been  blowing  hard, 
which  obliged  us  to  shorten  sail ;  and  as  I  felt 
conscientious  about  making  all  the  sail  we  could 
on  the  Lord's  day,  the  passengers  were  not  a 
little  dissatisfied,  which  they  expressed  to  me. 


172        CAPTAIN  OBADTAH  CONGAR. 

I  stated  to  them  my  reasons  for  not  making  the 
same  exertions  on  the  Sabbath  days  as  at  other 
times,  but  they  were  no  better  reconciled. 

"  Feeling  myself  at  a  loss  how  to  act,  I  en- 
deavored to  make  my  case  the  subject  of  prayer ; 
but,  not  seeing  my  way  entirely  clear,  I  wrote 
the  following  letter  to  an  eminent  divine  in  En- 
gland, intending  to  forward  it  on  our  arrival  at 
Liverpool,  being  desirous  to  have  the  senti- 
ments of  one  on  the  subject  whom  I  considered 
very  correct  in  his  expositions  of  the  Scriptures. 

"REVEREND  AND  DEAR  SIR, — Although  I  have 
not  the  pleasure  of  being  personally  acquainted 
with  you,  yet,  from  the  high  character  you  sus- 
tain in  America  as  an  expositor  of  the  sacred 
Scriptures,  and  particularly  with  myself,  I  have 
taken  the  liberty  to  write  you,  requesting  your 
opinion  on  a  subject  which  has  long  occupied 
my  mind,  and  which  has  more  than  once  in- 
volved me  in  some  difficulty  with  my  fellow- 
creatures.  I  beg  leave  to  inform  you,  sir,  that 
I  am  master  of  an  American  vessel ;  that  I  have 
been  a  professor  of  religion  a  number  of  years  ; 
and  that,  since  I  was  first  brought  to  see,  in  a 
measure,  the  extent  of  the  Divine  requirements 
as  contained  in  the  ten  commandments,  I  have 
had  many  scruples  as  to  the  consistency  of  ei- 


SCRUPLES    ON    MAKING    SAIL    SUNDAY.        173 

ther  engaging  myself,  or  of  employing  those  un- 
der my  care,  in  the  common  transactions  of  sail- 
ing a  ship  on  the  Sabbath  day. 

"  I  will  endeavor  to  explain  my  views.  I 
consumer  the  command  to  keep  the  Sabbath  day 
holy  binding  on  all  men,  as  well  at  sea  as  on 
land ;  that  it  is  as  necessary  one  day  in  seven 
should  be  distinguished  as  a  day  of  religious 
worship  on  the  deep  as  on  shore,  and  that  this 
ought  always  be  attended  to  whenever  the 
weather  and  other  circumstances  will  permit. 
I  suppose  it  right  to  employ  our  hands  in  what- 
ever is  necessary  for  the  safety  of  the  ship ;  and, 
further,  that  we  may  so  trim  our  sails,  when  a 
change  of  wind  takes  place,  as  to  keep  the  ship 
as  near  her  destined  course  as  possible.  But  I 
do  not  consider  it  proper  to  make  the  same  ex- 
ertions, by  spreading  all  the  canvas  possible,  to 
get  the  ship  on  her  way,  which  would  not  only 
be  proper  on  other  days,  but  absolutely  a  duty. 
Some  are  of  opinion  that  it  is  right  to  make  the 
best  of  a  favorable  wind  when  it  comes,  as  well 
on  the  Sabbath  as  on  any  other  day.  I  can  not 
acknowledge  the  justness  of  this  principle.  I 
consider,  also,  the  practice  of  going  to  sea  on 
the  Sabbath  a  breach  of  the  Divine  command, 
and  I  have  had  some  disputes  with  my  employ- 
er on  the  subject. 


174  CAPTAIN   OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

"  For  several  years  past  I  have  been  in  the 
habit  of  calling  my  crew  together  on  the  Lord's 
day  to  attend  religious  duties,  which  I  esteem 
a  great  privilege.  Every  kind  of  unnecessary 
work,  therefore,  must  break  in  upon  a  regular 
attendance  on  those  duties,  and  so  far  do  away 
any  impressions  which  might  be  excited  by  at- 
tending to  the  things  of  religion.  I  feel  deeply 
sensible  I  ought  to  possess  a  clear  judgment  of 
what  is  duty  and  what  is  not,  in  order  that  I 
may  not,  through  conformity  to  the  world  or 
ignorance  of  the  commands  of  God,  habitually 
and  knowingly  transgress  ;  or  lest  I  should  be 
more  rigid  in  this  respect  than  the  Scriptures 
enjoin,  and  thereby  become  chargeable  with  be- 
ing righteous  over  much,  and  instead  of  rec- 
ommending the  religion  of  the  Bible  to  others, 
should  be  the  means  of  prejudicing  their  minds 
against  it. 

"  The  particular  circumstances  which  gave 
rise  to  this  letter  were  the  following:  On  our 
late  passage  from  New  York  to  this  port,  it  so 
fell  out  that  we  had  blowing  weather  three  suc- 
cessive Saturdays,  which  obliged  us  to  shorten 
sail ;  and,  as  I  before  observed,  I  felt  conscien- 
tious in  not  ordering  more  sail  to  be  set  on  Sab- 
bath morning,  which  might  have  been  done, 
and  which  we  should  have  done  on  any  other 


CASES    OP    CONSCIENCE    STATED.  175 

day  of  the  week.  We  had  on  board  three  gen- 
tlemen passengers,  who  had  noticed  that  we  did 
not  use  the  same  efforts  to  get  along  on  our 
way  Sabbath  days  as  at  other  times,  and  wish- 
ed to  know  what  I  meant ;  remarking  that  they 
were  anxious  to  get  to  our  destined  port,  and 
would  not  submit  to  such  treatment. 

"  I  explained  to  them  my  views  in  the  best 
manner  I  was  capable,  but  they  were  no  better 
satisfied  ;  observing  that,  whatever  religious 
customs  I  might  see  fit  to  introduce  in  the  ship, 
I  ought  not  to  let  these  things  interfere  with 
any  exertions  to  make  the  best  of  our  way ; 
that  it  was  altogether  an  uncommon  circum- 
stance ;  and  that,  had  they  been  acquainted  be- 
forehand with  my  practice  in  this  respect,  they 
would  not  have  taken  passage  with  us. 

"  I  did  not  immediately  comply  with  their 
wishes ;  but,  about  noon,  the  wind  was  favora- 
ble, and  fine  weather,  and  discovering  one  of 
the  passengers  in  a  great  passion,  I  thought  it 
best  to  order  more  sail  to  be  set.  We  did  not, 
indeed,  set  all  sail  possible ;  but  my  heart  smote 
me,  and  my  conscience  is  hurt.  I  have  offend- 
ed them,  and,  I  have  reason  to  fear,  offended 
my  Almighty  judge.  One  of  the  gentlemen  ob- 
served to  me  that,  if  I  considered  work  done  on 
board  the  ship  as  a  breach  of  the  Sabbath,  to 


176        CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

be  consistent,  I  ought  to  have  all  the  sails  furl- 
ed on  Saturday,  and  lay  by  until  Monday  morn- 
ing; and,  indeed,  that  if  I  would  keep  it  strict- 
ly, I  must  not  follow  the  water  business  at  all. 

"  You  will  perceive,  sir,  how  difficult  I  must 
find  it  to  preserve  good  order  in  the  ship,  as  re- 
spects the  due  observance  of  the  Sabbath,  and 
yet  give  no  offense  to  worldly  men  ;  for  all  men 
have  not  faith.  And  how  necessary  it  is  that 
I  should  be  fully  persuaded  what  is  duty  in  my 
situation,  and  what  is  not.  There  is  now  a 
gentleman  in  the  Established  Church  who  was 
formerly  a  lieutenant  in  the  royal  navy.  As 
he  has  long  been  conversant  with  the  sea,  and 
as  I  consider  him  a  truly  pious  man,  I  should 
be  glad  to  consult  his  opinion  on  this  subject 
were  I  acquainted  with  him.  lie  is  the  author 
of  a  little  work  entitled  the  Retrospect  (a  work 
which  I  have  read  with  much  pleasure) ;  and 
as  I  have  no  doubt,  reverend  sir,  you  are  ac- 
quainted with  his  name,  I  should  be  glad  you 
would  favor  me  witli  it,  and  also  where  he  re- 
sides. I  feel  a  great  esteem  for  him.  Would 
to  God  I  had  the  same  faith,  and  the  same  bold- 
ness in  the  cause  of  Christ,  which  he  manifest-  . 
ed  while  in  the  navy  ! 

"  And  now,  dear  sir,  my  case  is  before  you, 
and  if  you  have  leisure  In  make  some  reflections 


OPINION    AND    ADVICE    SOLICITED.  177 

upon  it,  and  will  do  me  the  favor  to  drop  me  a 
few  lines  by  post,  I  shall  feel  greatly  indebted 
to  you ;  and  though  I  may  never  have  the  pleas- 
ure to  meet  with  you  on  this  side  eternity,  yet 
my  hope  is  that  we  shall  meet  where  seas  and 
continents  will  no  longer  separate  those  who 
belong  to  the  fold  of  Christ. 

"  I  remain,  reverend  and  dear  sir,  with  Chris- 
tian affection,  yours, 

•  •  OBADIAU  CONGAB. 
"  REV.  THOS.  SCOTT,  > 

"  Aaton  Sandford,  Bucks  county."  > 

The  above  letter  was  forwarded  from  Liver- 
pool, and  the  following  answer  was  received  in 
due  course  of  mail : 

"  Aston  Sandford,  October  5th,  1817. 

"  DEAR  SIR, — For  your  very  interesting  let- 
ter induces  me  thus  to  address  you,  though 
otherwise  unknown — you  have  brought  before 
me  a  subject  which,  consulted  as  I  have  been 
in  cases  of  conscience  during  many  years,  nev- 
er before  called  for  my  attention,  or,  indeed, 
occupied  my  mind,  so  that  in  this  respect  I  am 
very  incompetent  to  give  counsel.  I  never  was 
at  sea,  except  in  the  Margate  packet  to  and 
from  London ;  and  never  was  on  board  one  on 
the  Lord's  day,  so  had  no  idea  in  what  way  the 
sacred  rest  might  or  might  not  be  observed  in 
M 


178        CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

the  management  of  the  vessel.  I  have  been 
acquainted  with  pious  men  who  had  been  com- 
manders of  vessels  (especially  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Newton),  yet  I  do  not  remember  to  have  heard 
from  any  of  them  one  word  on  the  subject  of 
your  letter. 

"  Israel  was  not  a  seafaring  nation,  and  the 
case  which  you  state  does  not  appear  to  be  at 
all  alluded  to  in  any  regulations  of  the  Mosaic 
law ;  and  the  sailing  of  the  apostles  or  others, 
as  to  long  voyages  in  the  New  Testament,  was 
generally,  if  not  always,  in  vessels  belonging 
to  the  heathen,  so  that  all  we  can  conclude  on 
the  subject  must  be  by  analogy,  and  the  case 
resembling  or  not  resembling  others  concerning 
which  regulations  are  made  or  examples  re- 
corded ;  and  this  shows  that  there  are  cases  of 
this  kind,  in  which  things  are  duties,  for  which 
chapter  and  verse  can  not  verbatim  be  quoted, 
or  sins  which  are  nowhere  in  so  many  words 
forbidden. 

"  Arguing,  then,  from  Scriptural  principles 
by  analogy,  I  should  first  conclude  that,  by  sea 
as  well  as  land,  works  of  real  necessity,  of  char- 
ity, of  piety,  were  no  violation  of  the  sacred' 
rest,  and  thus  that  every  thing  was  lawful 
which  the  safety,  or  health,  or  important  good, 
or  relief  of  the  persons  on  board  required  ;  this 


WORKS    OF    NECESSITY    AND    MERCY.         179 

the  Lord  of  the  Sabbath,  in  the  New  Testa- 
ment, has  fully  shown.  I  should  also  argue 
that  many  things  are  necessary  to  those  under 
authority  which  they  can  not  decline,  though 
not  so  in  themselves,  as  in  the  case  of  slaves  in 
the  apostles'  days  in  heathen  families ;  to  slaves 
in  our  West  Indies ;  not  to  say  to  servants  in 
many  families  of  Christians,  in  this  land  at 
least. 

"  In  these  cases  it  must  often  be  unavoidable 
to  do  as  necessary  to  them  what  is  not  neces- 
sary in  itself.  Your  situation  as  master  of  the 
vessel  in  great  measure  exempts  you  and  your 
seamen  also  from  this ;  but  whether  regard  to 
the  will  of  your  employer  (who  yet  is  probably 
as  conceding  as  most  are)  may  or  may  not,  in 
some  degree,  require  what  otherwise  might  well 
be  avoided,  I  must  leave  you  to  determine,  as 
well  as  how  far  it  is  practicable  or  proper  for 
passengers  to  be  made  acquainted  with  your 
plan  in  this  respect;  for  if  the  result  be  any 
considerable  delay,  it  will  certainly  be  consid- 
ered by  eager,  worldly  men  as  ill  usage,  and 
assume  in  their  view  the  appearance  of  evil. 

"  With  these  previous  limitations  or  cautions, 
I  must,  as  far  as  I  can  judge,  reasoning  by  anal- 
ogy from  Scripture,  consider  your  main  princi- 
ple as  well  grounded,  and  your  adopting  it  a 


J80  CAPTAIN    OBAUIAH    CONGAR. 

proof  of  a  sound  judgment,  as  well  as  strict  con- 
scientiousness. Supposing  that  the  Saturday, 
and,  indeed,  all  the  preceding  week,  in  harvest 
very  unfavorable,  and  the  Lord's  day  favorable 
to  gathering  in  the  precious  grain,  though  we 
do  not  know  but  the  Monday  may  again  be 
unfavorable,  yet  sound  theologians  and  consci- 
entious Christians  do  not  think  it  allowable  to 
violate  the  sacred  rest,  and  employ  the  day  in 
harvest  work,  but  to  rest  on  the  Sabbath  ac- 
cording to  the  commandment,  and  trust  the 
Lord  as  to  the  future  in  so  doing.  Yet  in  some 
great  emergencies,  as,  for  instance,  a  bank 
breaking,  and  the  prospect  of  an  inundation 
destroying  the  crop,  the  necessity  might  justify 
an  exception  in  their  conduct. 

"Thus,  then,  at  sea,  whatever  relates  to  the 
safety  of  the  vessel,  &c.,  must  be  attended  to, 
as  we  deem  it  lawful  to  fodder  our  cattle  and 
milk  our  kine,  &c.  Emergencies  may  justify 
what  is  somewhat  further  in  several  cases,  but 
the  main  principle  seems  stable.  After  even 
an  unfavorable  week,  the  whole  advantage  of  a 
fair  wind  must  not  be  taken,  if  it  greatly  inter- 
fere with  the  main  duties  of  the  sacred  rest, 
but  God  must  be  trusted  in  the  path  of  duty. 
Yet,  perhaps,  any  thing  in  altering  the  sails,  so 
as  to  forward  the  voyage,  with  not  more  labor 


THE    DIVINE    ENDORSING    THE    CAPTAIN.     181 

than  tending  the  cattle,  &c.,  on  land  requires, 
and  which  can  consist  with  the  public  and  pri- 
vate duties  of  the  day,  may  be  allowable ;  and 
it  is  not  desirable  to  appear  stiffly  unaccommo- 
dating. 

"  Setting  sail  on  the  Lord's  day,  when  it  can 
possibly  be  avoided,  seems  altogether  wrong, 
and  decidedly  to  be  resisted.  In  all  things  we 
ought  to  give  up  our  own  will  to  please  others 
for  their  good,  but  never  give  up  the  Lord's  will. 
Afraid  of  venturing  too  far  on  untrodden  ground, 
I  have  suggested  all  the  limitations  I  can  rec- 
ollect. As  to  the  main  principle,  I  can  not 
doubt  but  in  that  you  are  right ;  yet  I  fear  you 
should  push  it  too  far,  and  not  only  be  tender 
in  conscience,  but  uncomfortably  scrupulous. 
May  the  Lord  give  you  wisdom,  and  render 
your  example  useful  to  others  in  your  station. 

"  I  am  sincerely  your  friend  and  servant, 

"Tnos.  SCOTT. 

"  Mr.  OBADIAH  CONOAR." 


182  CAPTAIN  OBADIAH   CONGAK. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

DESPONDENCY  CONFESSED,  CORRECTED,  AND  CURED. 

THY  heart  is  sad,  and  deeply  thou  complain'st 
That  dull  and  wandering  thy  affections  prove  ; 
That,  lingering  far,  BO  often  thou  remain'st 
Apart  from  Him  who  claims  thy  highest  love. 
Oh,  meditate  Him  more,  and  the  world  less: 
At  morn,  and  pensive  eve,  give  Him  thy  thought, 
Recall  how  Me  hath  saved  thee,  and  doth  bless 
With  that  redemption,  which  his  life-blood  bought : 
Then  deeply  think,  till  thou  hast  deeply  felt ; 
"When  thought  is  busy,  love  is  busy  too. 
Oh  think,  until  thy  stony  heart  doth  melt, 
Of  all  thy  Savior  did,  and  yet  will  do  ; 
How  he  hath  condescended,  suffered,  died, 
And,  even  now,  doth  clasp  thee  to  his  bleeding  side. 

T.  C.  UPHAM. 

WE  pass  without  notice  more  than  two  years 
of  the  varied  sea  and  shore  life  of  Captain  Con- 
gar,  during  which,  although  there  is  no  evidence 
of  grievous  departure  from  God,  religious  de- 
spondency again  stole  over  him,  owing,  in  part, 
to  a  domestic  infelicity  arising  from  a  want  of 
correspondence  of  views  and  feelings  on  the  sub-' 
ject  of  religion.  From  August,  1819,  onward, 
there  are  frequent  entries  of  spiritual  exercises 
and  prayers  like  the  following,  entitled. 


PENITENTIAL    CONFESSIONS    AND    PRAYERS.    183 

"  A  Prayer  for  Mercy  and  Peace  with  God. 

"  O  God  of  infinite  mercy,  who  hast  said, 
*  Thou  wiliest  not  the  death  of  a  sinner,  but 
rather  that  he  turn  from  his  ways  and  live ;' 
and,  that  backsliders  might  not  be  left  to  de- 
spair, hast  said,  '  Go  and  proclaim  these  words 
toward  the  north,  and  say,  Return,  thou  back- 
sliding Israel,  saith  the  Lord,  and  I  will  not 
cause  mine  anger  to  fall  upon  you  :  for  I  am 
merciful,  saith  the  Lord,  and  I  will  not  keep 
anger  forever.  Only  acknowledge  the  iniquity 
that  thou  hast  transgressed  against  the  Lord 
thy  God.'  Now,  O  Lord,  I  confess  that  I  am 
indeed  the  chief  of  sinners,  and  not  worthy  to 
lift  up  my  sinful  eyes  toward  thy  holy  habita- 
tion. Yet,  O  Lord,  I  deprecate  thy  wrath  ;  I 
fear  thy  frowns  ;  I  mourn  the  hidings  of  thy 
face ;  I  am  oppressed  with  anxious  forebodings 
that  I  shall  at  last  perish  from  thy  presence. 
Thou,  O  Lord,  seest  me  filled  with  melancholy 
and  disconsolate  thoughts,  and  that  I  spend 
much  of  my  time  in  a  wretched  uncertainty 
what  will  be  my  future  destiny. 

"  I  acknowledge,  O  God,  that  my  sins  have 
hid  thy  face  from  me.  '  I  was  shapen  in  iniq- 
uity, and  in  sin  did  my  mother  conceive  me.'  1 
confess  that,  soon  as  I  became  capable  of  moral 


184  CAPTAIN  OBADIAH   CONGAR. 

action,  I  commenced  my  sinful  career,  and  as  I 
grew  in  years  I  grew  in  vice.  Justly  may  it  be 
said  of  me  that  I  drank  in  iniquity  like  water. 
I  acknowledge  that  I  have  sinned  against  the 
pious  instructions  of  a  tender  and  affectionate 
parent,  against  the  admonitions  and  convictions 
of  my  own  conscience,  the  strivings  of  thy  Holy 
Spirit,  and  my  most  solemn  vows  and  engage- 
ments. I  have  sinned  secretly  and  presump- 
tuously, in  thought,  word,  and  deed.  I  have 
sinned  against  mercies  and  against  judgments. 
"  I  confess,  O  Lord,  I  have  been  very  rebel- 
lious and  stiff-necked  since  the  day  I  was  born, 
that  I  have  walked  contrary  to  thy  holy  com- 
mands, to  the  dictates  of  reason,  and  to  my 
own  true  interests.  I  confess  that  I  justly  de- 
serve all  the  distress  of  mind  and  all  the  fears 
and  doubts  with  which  I  am  afflicted ;  for  too 
often  hast  thou  called  and  I  refused.  Thou 
hast  stretched  out  thy  hand,  but  I  would  not 
regard.  Thou  mightest  now  disregard  my  cry 
and  mock  at  my  fear.  O  Lord,  while  I  make 
this  mortifying  confession,  I  would  mourn  that 
I  have  sinned  against  thee.  O  enable  me  to  re- 
pent in  dust  and  ashes.  O  may  this  confession 
produce  in  my  mind  an  abiding  sense  of  the  evil 
of  sin,  especially  as  committed  against  God,  and 
may  I  now  return  to  my  offended  God  and  Sav- 


THE  CONTRITE  HEART  PANTING  AFTER  CHRIST.   185 

ior,  and  say,  Take  away  all  mine  iniquity,  and 
receive  me  graciously,  and  do  thou  heal  my 
backslid  ings,  and  love  me  freely. 

"  Mercifully  sanctify  to  me  the  present  af- 
flicting state  of  my  mind.  O  teach  me  humil- 
ity and  patience,  that  I  may  say  I  will  bear  the 
indignation  of  the  Lord,  because  I  have  sinned 
against  him.  Let  me  never  trust  in  my  own 
righteousness  and  strength ;  but  may  I  look  to 
Jesus  alone,  who  is  able  to  save  unto  the  utter- 
most. O  may  I  possess  unfeigned  faith  in  his 
blood  and  righteousness.  O  divine  and  heavenly 
advocate,  intercede  for  me  that  my  faith  fail  not. 
O  Lord,  I  beseech  thee,  have  mercy  on  me,  and 
pardon  the  numerous  transgressions  of  my  life, 
and  restore  to  me  thy  favor,  which  is  life,  and 
cause  me  to  walk  in  the  light  of  thy  countenance. 
Suffer  not  Satan  to  tempt  me  above  what  I  am 
able  to  bear.  Hear  me  for  the  sake  of  my  only 
high  priest  and  intercessor  ;  and  to  God  the 
Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost  be  endless  praises, 
Amen." 

Thou  Man  of  griefs,  remember  me, 

Who  never  canst  thyself  forget, 
Thy  last  mysterious  agony, 

Thy  fainting  pangs  and  bloody  sweat. 
When,  wrestling  in  the  strength  of  prayer, 

Jhy  spirit  sunk  beneath  its  load ! 
Thy  feeble  flesh  abhorr'd  to  bear 

The  wrath  of  an  almighty  God  ! 


186        CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

Father,  if  I  may  call  thee  so, 

Regard  my  feeble  heart's  desire ; 
Remove  this  load  of  guilty  woe, 

Nor  let  me  in  my  sins  expire 
I  tremble  lest  the  wrath  divine, 

Which  bruises  now  my  sinful  soul, 
Should  bruise  this  wretched  soul  of  mine 

Long  as  eternal  ages  roll ! 
To  thee  my  last  distress  I  bring; 

The  heighten'd  fear  of  death  I  find ' 
The  tyrant,  with  his  direful  sting, 

Appears,  and  hell  is  close  behind  ! 
I  deprecate  that  death  alone, 

That  endless  banishment  from  thee ! 
O  save,  and  give  me  to  thy  Son, 

Who  trembled,  wept,  and  bled  for  me ! 

"  Throughout  this  day  I  have  been  greatly 
depressed  in  spirit,  under  the  apprehension  of 
apostasy  from  God.  We  read  of  the  sins  of 
Noah,  David,  Manasseh,  Peter,  and  Paul,  who 
called  himself  the  chief  of  sinners ;  but  my 
sins  swell  beyond  all  these.  Can  there  be  hope 
in  my  case  ?  Yes  ;  a  glimmering  ray  appears 
through  the  dark  clouds  of  despairing  thoughts 
which  hover  over  my  benighted  soul.  I  hope 
that  the  Lord,  though  greatly  offended  by  my 
wanderings  and  backslidings,  yet  has  not  totally 
given  me  up  to  impenitency  and  judicial  blind- 
ness ;  I  hope  the  Spirit  of  grace  is  not  only 
showing  me  that  my  sins  have  exceeded,  but  is 
bringing  me  to  remember  my  own  evil  ways, 


BACKSLIDING   BEWAILED   AND  DEPRECATED.    187 

and  my  doings  that  were  not  good,  that  I  might 
loathe  myself  in  my  own  sight  for  my  iniquities 
and  for  my  abominations ;  I  feel  that  it  would 
be  just  if  God  should  seal  my  everlasting  de- 
struction, and  swear,  in  his  wrath,  I  shall  never 
enter  into  his  rest.  Yet  I  am  a  monument  of 
his  long-suffering  and  patience ;  therefore  will  I 
hope  in  his  mercy,  and  renew  my  supplications 
to  the  throne  of  grace,  that  I  may  be  healed  of 
my  backslidings,  and  my  soul  restored  to  the 
image  of  God,  and  that  I  may  once  more  walk 
in  the  light  of  his  countenance. 

"  A  Prayer  for  the  Pardon  of  Sin  and  Re- 
storing Grace. 

"  O  Lord,  I  beseech  thee,  look  from  thy  holy 
habitation  in  mercy  upon  thy  sinful  and  pollut- 
ed creature,  who,  although  beset  with  fears  and 
doubts,  and  a  deep  sense  of  guilt,  would  venture 
to  plead  with  thee,  in  the  name  of  Jesus,  my 
only  hope,  that  rny  sins  and  iniquities  may  be 
blotted  out  from  the  book  of  thy  remembrance ; 
that  I  may  be  healed  of  all  my  backslidings; 
that  my  sinful  soul  may  be  cleansed  in  that  pre- 
cious blood  which  cleanse th  from  all  sin ;  and 
that  the  Lord  would  be  pleased  to  grant  me  new 
discoveries  of  the  glories  and  worthiness  of  the 
Divine  Redeemer,  and  his  ability  to  save. 


188        CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

"  Dear  Savior,  thou  knowest  the  strength  of 
my  corruption ;  thou  knowest  the  deceitfulness 
of  my  heart ;  thou  knowest  the  subtlety  and 
power  of  Satan.  O  deliver  me  from  my  sins 
and  from  my  fears,  and  endue  me  with  thy  free 
grace,  that  I  may  renounce  every  beloved  idol, 
and  give  my  heart  unto  thee.  O  keep  me  by 
thy  mighty  power  through  faith  unto  salvation, 
and  the  praise  shall  be  ascribed  to  the  ever- 
blessed  God,  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Spirit, 
world  without  end.  Amen. 

"  August  24th,  1819,  on  the  way  to  Oporto. 
We  are  surrounded  with  a  multitude  of  fish 
which  sailors  call  boneto.  They  are  busily  em- 
ployed catching  flying-fish,  flocks  of  which  are 
seen  flying  every  few  minutes  to  escape  the 
jaws  of  the  boneto ;  but,  as  they  can  not  fly 
more  than  two  or  three  hundred  yards  at  a 
time,  the  dolphin  and  boneto  keep  so  near  un- 
der them,  that  as  soon  as  they  light  in  the  wa- 
ter they  become  a  prey.  The  Psalmist  says, 
1  These  all  wait  upon  thee,  that  thou  mayest 
give  them  their  meat  in  due  season  ;  that  thou 
givest  them  they  gather ;  thou  openest  thine 
hand,  they  are  filled  with  good.'  This  kind  of 
fish  are  rather  scarce  on  the  ocean,  and  in  gen- 
eral are  difficult  to  take  ;  yet,  extraordinary  as 
it  is,  they  have  followed  the  ship  more  than 


EVENTS,  ETC.,  OF   A  VOYAGE  TO  OPORTO.    1»9 

three  weeks,  and  we  find  no  difficulty  in  taking 
them  at  any  time.  They  are  not  generally  held 
to  be  very  palatable,  notwithstanding  they  make 
a  pretty  good  mess,  by  way  of  a  change. 

"  The  sea  is  smooth,  the  sky  serene,  and  gen- 
tle breezes  are  wafting  our  ship  along  the  briny 
way  in  stately  magnificence,  with  all  her  can- 
vas spread.  Our  crew  are  all  in  good  health. 
The  principal  part  of  our  little  company  attend 
religious  worship  morning  and  evening,  and  in 
a  very  becoming  manner,  and  I  hope  to  some 
profit.  I  have  myself  enjoyed  a  great  share  of 
health  this  voyage,  and  we  have  had  a  large 
proportion  of  fine,  comfortable  weather. 

"  But,  with  all  these  favors,  there  is  one  thing 
to  remind  me  that  this  is  not  the  place  of  my 
rest.  The  enjoyment  of  His  presence  who  has 
created  all  these  things  is  wanted.  This  day, 
indeed,  I  trust  the  Lord  has  condescended  to 
speak  in  some  degree  comfortably  to  my  troubled 
mind.  I  feel  a  hope  that  the  Spirit  of  grace  has 
not  utterly  forsaken  me.  The  gracious  conde- 
scension of  Jehovah,  and  his  promises  of  mercy 
to  the  idolatrous  and  disobedient  Jews,  which 
we  find  in  the  sixteenth  chapter  of  Ezekiel, 
from  the  sixtieth  verse  to  the  end,  and  again, 
from  the  twenty-first  verse  of  the  thirty-sixth 
chapter  to  the  end,  encourages  me  to  hope  that 


190        CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

the  Lord  will  yet  be  favorable  to  me,  but  not 
for  my  sake.  Yet,  though  the  Lord  has  been 
pleased  to  make  known  his  purposes  of  mercy 
even  to  those  who  have  been  very  rebellious  for 
his  own  name's  sake,  he  still  says  he  will  be  in- 
quired of  by  the  house  of  Israel  to  do  those 
things  for  them.  O  may  I  now  with  a  holy 
importunity  beseech  the  Father  of  mercies  to 
cast  an  eye  of  pity  toward  his  helpless  creature, 
and  may  my  cries,  sprinkled  with  the  atoning 
blood  of  Jesus,  reach  his  mercy-seat  and  receive 
a  gracious  answer. 

"  A  Prayer  with  Thanksgiving  for  some  Gra- 
cious Tokens  of  Divine  Favor. 

"  O  Lord  God  !  I  acknowledge  that  I  am  less 
than  the  least  of  all  thy  mercies.  I  have  for- 
feited every  right  to  thy  compassions.  I  have 
strayed  from  thee  like  a  lost  sheep.  I  confess 
that  my  sins  have  provoked  thee  to  withdraw 
from  me  thy  wonted  favor.  Thou,  O  God  !  hast 
justly  hedged  up  my  way,  and  made  my  paths 
crooked.  Yet  I  thank  thee,  O  thou  God  of 
mercy !  that  a  ray  of  hope  is  still  afforded  me 
under  the  darkness  of  my  mind  and  the  hidings 
of  thy  face.  I  thank  thee  that  I  am  permitted 
to  indulge  the  consoling  reflection  that  there  is 
forgiveness  with  thee,  that  thou  mayest  be  fear- 


THE    801  1.    K.\STJ\<;    AND    MOURMN<;.        191 

ed.  I  pray,  O  Lord,  that  the  necessities  of  my 
case  may  plead  for  my  importunity,  and  that 
thou  wouldst  verify  thy  promises  of  faithfulness 
and  truth  wherein  thou  hast  caused  me  to  hope, 
and  carry  on  thy  begun  goodness  to  me,  O  Lord, 
until  I  can  say  with  thy  servant  of  old,  '  Lord, 
thou  knowest  all  things,  thou  k newest  I  love 
thee.'  Will  the  Lord  hear  my  prayer  and  at- 
tend unto  my  cry  for  his  own  holy  name's 
sake,  and  to  the  only  wise  God,  Father,  Son, 
and  Spirit,  I  would  render  everlasting  praises, 
Amen. 

"Thursday,  26th.  I  begin  to  feel  more  and 
more  sensible  that  my  case,  as  it  respects  my  spir- 
itual condition,  calls  for  extraordinary  thought- 
fulness  and  solemnity,  and,  if  there  be  any  rem- 
edy, to  apply  to  it  with  all  that  solicitude  and 
diligence  which  my  peculiar  situation  requires. 
In  looking  over  my  journal,  I  find  that  about 
eleven  years  since  I  was  much  oppressed  with 
doubts  and  fears,  and  that,  after  laboring  under 
these  difficulties  of  mind  for  some  time,  I  re- 
solved to  seek  unto  God,  by  fasting  and  prayer, 
for  relief.  The  Lord  was  gracious  to  me,  and 
delivered  me  from  all  my  fears  and  apprehen- 
sions. Am  I  not,  then,  encouraged  to  look  to 
Him  in  the  same  way  for  the  removal  of  pres- 
ent anxieties,  and  that  he  would  once  more  set 


192        CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONUAR. 

my  soul  at  liberty  from  the  bondage  of  death 
and  sin,  and  cause  me  to  rejoice  in  his  salvation? 

"  But  it  is  not  by  past  experience  only  that  I 
feel  encouraged  to  hope  and  wait  on  the  Lord 
by  renewed  importunity  for  a  favorable  change, 
but  by  the  solemn  exhortations  and  promises  of 
the  Lord  himself;  for  he  says,  in  the  second 
chapter  of  Joel  and  twelfth  verse,  '  Therefore 
also  now,  saith  the  Lord,  turn  ye  even  to  me 
with  all  your  heart,  and  with  fasting,  and  with 
weeping,  and  with  mourning;  and  rend  your 
heart,  and  not  your  garments,  and  turn  unto 
the  Lord  your  God  :  for  he  is  gracious  and  mer- 
ciful, slow  to  anger,  and  of  great  kindness,  and 
repenteth  him  of  the  evil.  Who  knoweth  if  he 
will  return  and  repent,  and  leave  a  blessing  be- 
hind him  ;  even  a  meat-offering  and  a  drink-of- 
fering, unto  the  Lord  your  God.'  And  again, 
in  the  sixth  chapter  of  Matthew  and  at  the  sev- 
enteenth verse,  our  Savior  teaches  not  only  how 
to  fast  acceptably,  but  promises  important  bless- 
ings in  answer  to  the  performance  of  this  duty. 

"Hoping  in  the  mercy  and  faithfulness  of 
God,  I  resolve,  by  the  assistance  of  his  grace, 
to  seek  unto  him  more  earnestly,  until  he  be 
pleased  to  appoint  unto  me  beauty  for  ashes, 
the  oil  of  joy  for  mourning,  and  the  garment  of 
praise  for  the  spirit  of  heaviness.  And  oh  !  may 


THE  SORROWING  SOUL  COMFORTED.    1U3 

I  experience  all  this  mercy  for  his  own  name's 
sake. 

"Prom  this  time  onward  the  remainder  of 
our  passage,  my  mind  was  more  than  usually 
occupied  with  reflecting  on  the  sins  of  my  life, 
and  endeavoring  to  humble  myself  before  God 
on  account  thereof;  and  I  felt  as  though  noth- 
ing could  give  me  enjoyment  unless  I  once 
more  experienced  some  tokens  of  the  Lord's 
gracious  designs  toward  me.  I  did  not  long 
continue  in  that  state  of  fearful  apprehension 
that  the  mercy  of  God  was  clean  gone,  and  that 
I  should  never  again  enjoy  his  favor ;  for  I  be- 
gan to  entertain  a  feeble  hope  that  my  case  was 
not  irrecoverable,  and  this  hope  excited  me  to 
plead  more  earnestly  for  the  forgiveness  of  all 
my  sins,  and  that  through  grace  I  might  make 
a  new  surrender  of  myself  unto  God,  to  be  his 
for  time  and  eternity,  resolving  henceforth  to 
be  more  watchful  over  my  heart  and  life,  that 
I  might  not  sin  against  God  or  bring  a  disgrace 
on  religion. 

"  On  the  twentieth  of  September  came  on  a 
most  violent  gale  of  wind,  which  continued  al- 
most incessantly  for  three  days.  The  good  hand 
of  God  was  displayed  in  a  striking  manner  in 
preserving  us  from  the  perils  which  surrounded 
us,  and  which  threatened  our  safety.  To  Him 
N 


194  CAPTAIN    OBADIAH    CONOAR. 

only  who  holds  the  winds  in  his  fists  could  we 
look  in  the  time  of  our  trouble,  and,  blessed  be 
his  name,  he  not  only  rebuked  the  sea,  and 
granted  us  moderate  weather,  but  sent  us  fa- 
vorable winds,  and  conducted  us  safely  into  our 
desired  port.  On  the  next  Sabbath  I  was  fa- 
vored with  an  opportunity  of  going  to  the  house 
of  God,  and  offering  up  my  thanksgiving,  and 
paying  my  vows.  And  O,  blessed  be  the  name 
of  the  Most  High,  who  hath  not  only  restored 
me  to  my  home  and  to  the  society  of  my  fam- 
ily and  friends,  but  hath  granted  me  once  more, 
I  trust,  some  discoveries  of  his  love  and  mercy 
to  my  soul ;  hath  banished,  in  a  great  degree, 
my  doubts  and  fears,  so  that  I  am  enabled  to 
rejoice  in  the  light  of  his  countenance.  I  do 
feel  as  though  this  promise  was  verified  to  me, 
'  I  will  cast  thine  iniquities  into  the  depths  of 
the  sea,  and  remember  them  no  more.' 

"  But  oh,  why  all  this  condescension  to  me, 
the  chief  of  sinners  ?  I  can  only  say,  even  so, 
Father,  for  so  it  seemeth  good  in  thy  sight.  I 
would  be  thankful  for  all  those  Divine  rebukes 
and  corrections  which  have  been  the  means  of 
humbling  me  under  his  mighty  hand  ;  and  it  is 
my  prayer,  if  I  be  not  deceived,  that  whatever 
methods  the  Lord  may  see  fit  to  use  with  me, 
I  might  always  be  kept,  not  only  humble  for 


TOKENS    OF    DIVINE    FAVOR    RENEWED.       105 

my  sins  which  are  past,  but  sensible,  also,  of 
my  entire  dependence  on  the  grace  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  to  assist  me  in  resisting  sin  and  tempta- 
tion for  the  time  to  come." 


What  may  be  ray  future  lot, 
Well  I  know  concerns  me  not ; 
This  should  set  my  heart  at  rest, 
What  thy  will  ordains  is  best. 
I  my  all  to  thee  resign : 
Father,  let  my  will  be  thine ; 
May  but  all  thy  dealings  prove 
Fruits  of  thy  paternal  love. 
Guard  me,  Savior,  by  thy  power, 
Guard  me  in  the  tryiug  hour; 
Let  thy  unremitted  care 
Save  me  from  the  lurking  snare. 
Let  my  few  remaining  days 
Be  directed  to  thy  praise ; 
So  the  last,  the  closing  scene, 
Shall  be  tranquil  and  serene. 
To  thy  will  I  leave  the  rest, 
Grant  me  but  this  one  request : 
Both  in  life  and  death  to  prove 
Token*  of  thy  special  love. 


19(5  CAPTAIN    OBADIAH    CONGAR. 


CHAPTER    X. 

ABANDONMENT     OF    THE     SEA.       TRAVELS    AND    EX- 
PERIENCE   IN    THE    SOUTHWEST. 

WHAT  matter  whether  pain  or  pleasures  fill 
The  swelling  heart  one  little  moment  here  ? 

From  both  alike  how  vain  is  every  thrill, 
While  an  untried  eternity  is  near ! 

Think  not  of  rest,  fond  man,  in  life's  career, 
The  joys  and  griefs  that  meet  thee,  dash  aside 

Like  bubbles,  and  thy  bark  right  onward  steer, 
Through  calm  and  tempest,  till  it  cross  the  tide, 
Shoot  into  port  in  triumph,  or  serenely  glide. 

CARLOS  WILCOX 

BEING  now  upward  of  fifty  years  of  age,  and 
having  acquired  a  patrimony  sufficient,  in  his 
judgment,  to  carry  him  along  for  some  years, 
Captain  Congar  resolved  upon  quitting  the  sea, 
and  undertaking  something  else  for  a  livelihood 
and  employment.  This,  had  he  purchased  a 
spot  of  ground  and  turned  to  farming,  would 
have  been  judicious,  and  there  is  good  reason 
to  believe  would  have  succeeded  well,  as  it  ofte» 
does  with  men  in  his  line  of  life.  But  finding 
himself  and  wife  unable  to  agree  as  to  the  course 
to  be  pursued,  and  seeing  their  difference  of 
opinion  was  one  that  could  not  be  easily  set- 


A    SINGULAR    RESOLUTION    TAKKN.  197 


tied,  and  was  likely,  he  thought,  to  lead  to  se- 
rious difficulties,  he  drew  the  conclusion  that  it 
would  be  useless  for  him  to  attempt  any  Jcind 
of  business  at  home,  and  that  the  best  way  was 
to  endeavor  to  effect  some  business  arrange- 
ment abroad. 

In  one  view,  after  the  example  of  the  pru- 
dent man,  who  foreseeth  the  evil  and  hideth  him- 
self, this  was  wise  as  it  was  bold ;  but,  in  the 
large  view  of  things,  it  would  have  been  far  bet- 
ter for  him  to  have  resumed  his  business  on  the 
deep.  Having  taken  his  resolution  to  banish 
himself  a  while  from  his  family  and  friends, 

The  world  was  all  before  him,  where  to  choose 
His  place  of  rest,  and  Providence  his  guide. 

"My  great  desire,"  he  says,  "was  that  I 
might  not  be  banished  from  God's  presence, 
and  that  wherever  I  might  be  directed  to  so- 
journ, I  might  be  useful,  and  be  prepared  for 
his  holy  dispensations.  From  the  time  my 
thoughts  were  first  turned  to  this  business,  I 
earnestly  besought  the  Lord  to  direct  me  in  all 
my  steps,  to  open  a  way  in  his  providence  to 
follow  some  useful  occupation,  and  that  I  might 
see  the  path  of  duty  clear  in  all  things.  It  was, 
indeed,  an  affecting  thought  to  leave  my  native 
town,  where  I  had  enjoyed  much  in  the  society 
of  connections  and  friends — where  the  Gospel 


198        CAPTAIN'  OB  ADI  AH  CONOAK. 


was  preached  in  its  purity,  and  where  so  many 
interesting  scenes  had  taken  place — to  sojourn 
I  knew  not  whither,  and  perhaps  never  to  see 
the  face  of  those  I  love  again  in  the  land  of  the 
living.  But  what  is  this  world  ?  What  can  it 
give  ?  Alas !  it  only  brings  cares  and  anxie- 
ties, and  happy  is  he  who,  delivered  from  its 
troubles,  has  reached  the  haven  of  rest  above." 
On  the  thirteenth  of  November,  1820,  he  took 
passage  to  New  Orleans  with  a  small  assort- 
ment of  goods,  and  thence  to  Natchez,  where 
he  arrived  on  the  thirteenth  of  December,  busy- 
ing himself  at  all  stopping-places  with  distrib- 
uting tracts.  Landing  there  a  stranger,  he 
seems  to  have  expected  little  else  than  troub- 
les. But,  after  landing  his  goods  and  getting 
them  stored,  he  called  on  an  old  acquaintance, 
the  Reverend  William  Woodbridge,  who  gave 
him  much  useful  information  relative  to  the 
place,  and  also  introduced  him  to  respectable 
friends.  "  From  him,"  says  the  Journal,  "  I 
learned  that  the  state  of  religion  was  melan- 
cholily  low,  that  very  few  followers  of  Jesus 
were  to  be  found,  and  that  vice  and  iniquity 
greatly  abounded.  This  was,  indeed,  a  sad  re- 
flection to  me ;  but  it  has  been  the  subject  of 
my  prayers,  from  first  to  last,  that  I  might  be 
directed  where  to  sojourn,  and  this  would  ap- 


8TEP8   OF  A  GOOD  MAN   DIVINELY  ORDERED.     199 

pear  to  be  the  spot.  I  can  not,  indeed,  calcu- 
late, should  I  remain  here,  on  any  thing  but 
trials.  But  may  the  good  hand  of  God  pre- 
serve me  from  sin  and  temptation,  and  give  me 
some  good  to  do  at  this  place. 

"  I  must  not  omit  to  notice,  and  I  would  do 
it  with  humble  gratitude  to  Almighty  God  for 
rendering  my  whole  journey  to  this  place  so 
comfortable  and  prosperous,  that,  had  I  been 
delayed  only  three  days  longer  on  my  way,  the 
consequences  might  have  been  highly  disas- 
trous. My  goods  were  landed  and  put  in  store 
on  the  thirteenth.  On  the  evening  of  Friday, 
the  fifteenth,  came  on  a  tremendous  storm  of 
lightning  and  thunder,  with  torrents  of  rain. 
So  violent  were  the  shocks  of  thunder,  the  house 
shook  to  the  very  foundation,  and  the  windows 
rattled  as  though  they  would  have  fled  from 
their  places.  I  slept  that  night  alone  at  Mr. 
Woodbridge's,  but  I  never  knew  what  it  was 
to  enjoy  a  calm  and  serene  frame  of  mind  in 
such  an  awful  scene  before.  I  laid  me  down 
while  the  earth  comparatively  shook  under  me, 
and  went  to  sleep.  The  Sabbath  night  follow- 
ing the  same  scene  took  place,  and  until  this 
time,  Tuesday,  it  is  still  raining,  and  continues 
bad  traveling ;  consequently,  had  I  reached  here 
at  this  time,  my  goods  would  have  been  liable 


200  CAPTAIN    OBAUIAH    CONGAR. 

to  injury  and  loss,  and  to  great  expense  in  se- 
curing them.  After  having  made  every  inquiry 
and  searched  through  the  town  to  procure  a 
store,  or  part  of  a  store,  I  at  length  agreed  with 
Messrs.  Berthe  &  Co.  to  take  their  old  stand, 
and  to  pay  forty  dollars  a  month  for  six  months. 

"  On  Friday,  the  22d,  I  commenced  opening, 
and  on  Saturday  made  some  good  sales.  Among 
the  many  instances  of  Divine  goodness  which  I 
have  been  the  subject  of  since  I  left  home,  I 
would  not  forget  to  record  the  gracious  conde- 
scension and  love  of  God  in  granting  me  some 
precious  manifestations  of  his  presence  and  fa- 
vor. He  has  spoken  peace  to  my  soul,  and  re- 
stored to  me  the  joy  of  his  salvation.  And  why 
is  all  this  favor  shown  to  me,  the  most  unwor- 
thy of  the  race  of  Adam  ?  For  his  name's  sake 
he  declares  in  the  thirty-second  verse  of  the 
thirty-sixth  chapter  of  Ezekiel,  '  Not  for  your 
sakes  do  I  do  this,  saith  the  Lord  God,  be  it 
known  unto  you :  be  ashamed  and  confounded 
for  your  own  ways,  O  house  of  Israel.' 

"The  first  and  second  month  after  I  com- 
menced business  at  Natchez,  I  sold  quite  as. 
much  as  I  had  any  reason  to  expect,  whereat  I 
was  encouraged  to  send  to  New  Orleans  for  a 
supply  of  such  articles  as  were  wanted  to  keep 
my  assortment  good.  In  order  to  be  at  as  little 


FOLLOWING     llli:    THREAD    OP    PROVIDENCE.    201 

expense  as  possible,  and  that  I  might  not  be 
absent  from  my  shop,  I  lived  alone  at  my  place 
of  business,  and  often  felt  keenly  the  want  of 
society.  Yet  even  in  solitude  I  found  pleasures 
which  a  busy  world  does  not  meddle  with.  My 
greatest  anxieties  were  always  excited  by  re- 
flecting on  the  future  course  which  it  would  be 
best  to  pursue.  To  spend  my  days  here  in  sol- 
itude, even  if  I  were  successful  in  business, 
seemed  a  melancholy  thought." 

By  the  end  of  February,  1821,  business  had 
fallen  off,  and  a  letter  received  at  the  same  time 
from  his  wife,  bewailing  his  absence  and  begging 
his  return,  wrought  in  him  commiseration. 

Soon  his  heart  relented 
Toward  her,  hU  life  BO  late  and  sole  delight, 
Now  at  his  feet  submissive  in  dutresc. 

"My  prayers,"  he  says,  "were  now  more 
earnestly  lifted  to  the  Supreme  Governor  of  the 
universe  that  I  might  be  directed  whither  to 
remove ;  and  trusting  in  the  promise  annexed 
to  the  command  to  '  commit  thy  way  unto  the 
Lord,'  I  endeavored  to  wait  until  some  provi- 
dence might  point  the  path  I  ought  to  pursue. 

"While  my  mind  was  thus  occupied  from 
day  to  day,  I  received  a  second  letter  from  my 
wife,  in  which  she  again  mentioned  her  low  es- 
tate of  health,  and  especially  that  her  spirits 


202  CAPTAIN    OBAUIAH    CON'GAR. 

were  greatly  depressed.  After  perusing  her 
letter,  the  relation  she  gave  of  her  difficulties 
and  trials  so  affected  my  mind  that  I  could  no 
longer  hesitate  what  to  do.  I  resolved  to  make 
the  most  of  my  goods  as  soon  as  possible,  and, 
if  spared,  to  return  home,  leaving  all  my  affairs 
in  the  hands  of  Him  who  gave  me  my  being." 
Having  procured  a  release  from  his  obligations 
in  respect  to  the  store  occupied  by  him,  he  made 
immediate  arrangements  for  leaving  and  return- 
ing North. 

"  And  now,"  he  writes,  "  I  desire  to  acknowl- 
edge the  goodness  of  God  toward  me  since  I 
left  home.  I  have  enjoyed  a  good  degree  of 
health ;  I  have  been  protected  from  many  sur- 
rounding evils ;  I  have  been  prospered  in  my 
business  in  a  measure  equal  to  my  expecta- 
tions ;  I  have  found  some  pleasant  and  Chris- 
tian society  ;  I  have  enjoyed  great  privileges  in 
this  place ;  and  especially  would  I  make  men- 
tion of  the  loving-kindness  of  the  Lord  in  grant- 
ing me,  I  trust,  some  precious  tokens  of  his  fa- 
vor, and  in  his  purposes  of  everlasting  mercy  to 
my  soul.  And  while  I  confess  much  imper- 
fection and  many  failures  in  duty,  I  would  re-' 
cord  with  gratitude  what  the  Lord  has  done  for 
me.  '  Oh .'  my  soul,  bless  the  Lord ;  show  forth 
his  salvation  from  day  to  day  ' 


HE    BAldE»    A    PILLAR    OF    GRATITUDE.       '408 


On  his  return  to  the  north,  by  way  of  New 
Orleans,  he  was  brought  very  low  with  the  dys- 
entery common  upon  the  Mississippi,  and,  in 
prospect  of  dying,  his  soul  was  flooded  with 
peace.  His  life,  however,  was  spared,  and  he 
reached  his  family  convalescent  by  way  of  the 
sea.  Nothing  better  opening  in  a  business  way 
at  Newark  during  the  summer,  he  embarked 
in  the  fall  again  for  Natchez,  with  his  family, 
consisting  of  his  wife  and  her  sister.  His  busi- 
ness adventure  was  successful,  and,  the  proceeds 
thereof  being  invested  in  cotton,  they  returned 
to  the  North  in  the  summer  of  1822.  This  ex- 
pedition, dangerous  as  it  then  was  from  pirates 
by  sea  and  yellow  fever  in  port,  was  repeated 
for  two  or  three  successive  seasons. 

In  November,  when  just  arrived  at  Natchez, 
through  many  perils,  we  find  him  recording 
with  gratitude,  in  view  of  the  gracious  provi- 
dences that  had  appeared  in  his  behalf,  "  Ver- 
ily I  can  say  the  Lord  is  my  shade  on  my  right 
hand,  therefore  I  have  not  been  greatly  moved. 
I  would  also  remember  the  goodness  of  God  in 
sparing  my  wife,  and  affording  her  so  much 
health.  Our  fears  at  leaving  New  York,  lest 
some  person  on  board  might  have  the  yellow 
fever,  were  great ;  and  no  less  so  were  they  lest 
some  of  us  might  take  the  disease  in  New  Or- 


'<i04  CAPTAIN     OBADIAH    CONGAH. 

leans.  We  have  had  a  large  share  of  health, 
and  have  been  delivered  from  all  those  evils 
which,  for  the  time,  produced  some  degree  of 
terror ;  and  no  less  were  our  fears  of  falling  into 
the  hands  of  pirates,  than  of  falling  a  prey  to 
the  malignant  diseases  which  banished  many 
of  the  citizens  of  New  York  and  New  Orleans 
from  their  homes.  May  we  be  enabled  at  all 
times  to  cherish  a  due  sense  of  our  obligations 
to  the  God  of  our  lives,  whose  mercies,  indeed, 
are  more  than  can  be  reckoned  up." 

His  speculations  and  ventures  in  1823  did 
not  turn  out  as  advantageously  as  they  had 
done ;  and  this,  there  is  reason  to  believe,  wor- 
rying the  wife  more  than  the  husband,  elicited 
in  his  journal  the  following  sensible  considera- 
tions upon  a  practical  matter,  the  truth  and  the 
applicability  of  which  to  many  cases,  rather 
than  any  peculiar  originality  or  profoundness, 
justify  their  insertion  here :  "  There  is  a  sub- 
ject which  sometimes  is  talked  of  among  pro- 
fessors of  religion,  and  appears  to  them  of  vast 
importance,  which  yet,  notwithstanding,  when 
human  passions  get  the  ascendency,  loses  all 
its  weight  and  influence  on  the  mind,  and  is 
forgotten.  I  allude  to  the  practice  of  Christians 
marrying  with  unbelievers.  In  the  6th  chapter 
of  2d  Corinthians,  14th  verse  and  onward,  this 


A    DELICATE    SUBJECT    DISCUSSED.  205 


practice  is  expressly  prohibited  by  the  apostle 
as  utterly  inconsistent ;  *  For,'  says  he,  '  what 
fellowship  hath  righteousness  with  unrighteous- 
ness? and  what  communion  hath  light  with 
darkness?'  &c.,  as  if  he  had  said,  '  Two  can  not 
walk  together  except  they  be  agreed.  There 
can  be  no  union  of  heart  where  two  diametric- 
ally opposite  principles  govern ;  and  where  there 
is  no  union  of  heart  and  principles,  there  can 
be  no  concord.' 

"It  is  strange  that  where  so  much  is  at 
stake  there  should  frequently  be  discoverable 
so  great  an  unwillingness  to  let  the  judgment 
rule  instead  of  the  passions.  Through  this  er- 
ror thousands  have  plunged  themselves  into  all 
the  miseries  of  a  guilty  conscience,  and  the 
mortifying  reflection  that  they  have  entered 
into  league  and  covenant  with  an  enemy  of 
God.  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  few  Chris- 
tians have  ever  committed  this  error  without 
repenting  of  it  all  the  days  of  their  lives  after. 
Scarcely  a  day  will  pass  without  some  transac- 
tion taking  place  which  will  cause  grief  and  so- 
licitude on  the  part  of  the  one  who  would  con- 
scientiously walk  in  the  ways  of  God's  holy 
commands. 

"  The  Christian  sees  every  object  in  a  differ- 
ent light  from  the  unregenerate  person.  The 


206         CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONOAB. 

Christian's  God  is  the  Lord  of  heaven  and  earth ; 
the  unregenerate  person's  god  is  this  world  with 
its  vanities.  The  Christian's  end  and  aim  is  to 
do  something  for  the  advancement  of  the  Re- 
deemer's kingdom  among  men ;  the  unregen- 
erate person's  end  is  to  advance  self,  to  in- 
crease wealth,  to  live  in  luxury  and  ease.  The 
Christian  feels  it  obligatory  to  devote  a  part  of 
every  day  to  secret  prayer,  and  to  contribute  a 
portion  of  his  worldly  substance,  as  God  hath 
prospered,  to  benevolent  objects ;  the  unregen- 
erate person's  language  is,  what  need  of  so  much 
solicitude  about  religion — we  have  need  of  all 
we  can  earn  for  our  own  use,  for  we  know  not 
what  shall  befall  us,  and  we  ought  to  provide 
for  a  rainy  day,  and  so  on. 

"  A  Christian  friend  must  not  be  introduced 
into  the  family,  lest  the  subject  of  religion  be- 
comes the  topic  of  conversation,  and  the  thoughts 
of  religion  always  produce  uneasiness  in  the 
mind  of  the  unregenerate.  On  the  other  hand, 
gay,  vain,  and  foolish  company  never  can  suit 
the  mind  that  is  looking  beyond  this  terrestrial 
ball  for  something  more  substantial  and  lasting. 

"  There  will  therefore  exist  a  constant  source 
of  disquietude  and  perturbation,  which  noth- 
ing can  dispel  but  Almighty  grace.  How  dan- 
gerous is  it  for  Christians  to  marry  with  unbe- 


EVIDENCE    OF    GROWTH    IN    GRACE.  207 


lievers :  how  unhappy  it  is  sure  to  make  them ! 
The  Christian  can  not  engage  in  any  benevo- 
lent enterprise,  but  the  unregenerate  clog  is  al- 
ways hanging  back ;  or,  if  it  go,  it  must  be  car- 
ried, for  it  has  no  fret  to  walk,  no  eyes  to  see, 
no  tongue  to  talk." 

Notwithstanding  the  peculiar  trials  of  Cap- 
tain Congar,  and  his  unfavorable  changing  life, 
there  is  evidence  in  these  years  of  a  pretty  uni- 
form growth  in  grace,  and  an  abiding  fixedness 
of  purpose  to  glorify  and  serve  God.  In  a  sub- 
sequent passage  South  to  that  referred  to  above, 
after  enumerating  the  Divine  providential  fa- 
vors to  himself  and  family,  he  adds,  with  great 
appearance  of  sincerity  and  fervor,  "  But  the 
greatest  of  all  blessings  bestowed  upon  the  chief 
of  sinners  is  in  general  (if  I  be  not  deceived, 
and  I  trust  I  am  not,  by  the  spirit  which  he 
hath  given  me)  a  uniform  and  comfortable 
hope  that  I  am  interested  in  the  covenant  mer- 
cy of  God  through  Jesus  Christ ;  that  he  has 
wrought  in  my  soul  a  work  of  grace,  which  is 
an  earnest  of  the  complete  perfection  of  soul 
and  body  in  his  heavenly  kingdom  ;  and,  hav- 
ing such  hopes,  I  endeavor,  in  some  measure, 
to  purify  myself  as  Christ  is  pure.  But,  alas, 
my  sin  and  folly  !  Not  a  day  of  my  life  but  I 
am  called  upon  to  lament  more  or  less  mis- 


208  CAPTAIN    OBAU1AH    CONGAK. 


spent  time,  some  thought,  word,  or  deed  which 
is  contrary  to  the  Divine  requirements,  and  in- 
consistent with  my  own  most  solemn  vows  and 
engagements.  When  will  the  time  come  that 
I  shall  love  the  Lord  with  all  my  heart,  and  my 
neighbor  as  myself?  May  the  Lord  create  in 
me  a  new  heart,  and  renew  a  right  spirit  with- 
in me. 

1 1  Wednesday,  twenty-ninth  of  October.  The 
winds  are  favorable,  but  very  light.  At  eight 
o'clock  A.M.  made  the  land,  being  what  is  call- 
ed the  Harbor  Islands.  We  are  all  well  on 
board,  in  number  about  forty  persons  besides 
myself;  and,  alas  !  what  a  melancholy  reflec- 
tion, that  I  find  no  good  grounds  to  believe  there 
is  one  truly  pious  individual  among  them  !  It 
might,  indeed,  be  thought,  that  in  the  judgment 
of  that  charity  which  believeth  all  things,  which 
hopeth  all  things,  I  ought  to  form  a  different 
conclusion,  and  not  discover  so  much  partiality 
or  selfishness  as  to  think  unfavorably  of  every 
one  but  myself. 

"There  is  no  doubt  but  self-preference  is  in- 
terwoven with  our  very  natures,  so  that  a  mix- 
ture of  it  may  be  seen  even  in  those  who  are 
most  distinguished  for  their  graces.  But  in 
forming  our  opinion  relative  to  the  state  and 
condition  of  our  fellow-men  in  a  religious  point 


STATE    AND   PRuSPECTf-    OK    THE    UNGODLY.    209 

of  view,  we  must  always  be  governed  by  the 
decision  of  the  Bible,  and  therefore  what  the 
Bible  approves  we  must  approve,  and  what  the 
Bible  condemns  we  must  condemn. 

"  When,  therefore,  we  see  men  from  day  to 
day  spending  their  whole  time  playing  cards, 
frequently  taking  their  Maker's  name  in  vain, 
and  idling  away  the  Sabbath,  or  vainly  amus- 
ing themselves  by  reading  some  novel  or  tri- 
fling publication,  while  the  Bible  is  wholly  neg- 
lected, what  can  we  say  ?  Must  we  not  con- 
clude there  is  no  fear  of  God  before  their  eyes  ? 
And  surely  there  can  be  no  love  of  God  in  their 
hearts. 

"  Here,  then,  some  might  suppose  is  a  great 
opening  to  do  good,  an  opportunity  to  suggest 
occasionally  the  great  concerns  of  the  soul,  and 
seeking  the  knowledge  of  God  ;  yet,  in  general, 
the  fear  of  souring  the  minds  of  those  around 
me  by  introducing  a  subject  to  which  the  hu- 
man heart  is  so  much  averse,  together  with  a 
want  of  capacity  for  discussing  even  those  things 
which,  to  my  own  apprehension,  are  perfectly 
clear  and  satisfactory,  hinders  me  from  doing 
much  save  distributing  a  few  tracts.  With 
what  feelings,  then,  should  I  indulge  the  hope, 
that  while  so  many  are  left  in  nature's  dark- 
ness, and  living  daily  without  any  due  sense  of 
O 


210        CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

the  evil  of  sin,  and  regardless  of  the  way  of  es- 
cape from  the  wrath  to  come,  I  alone,  who  am 
the  chief  of  sinners,  should  be  made  a  monu- 
ment of  Divine  mercy !  Surely  the  ways  of  the 
Lord  are  not  as  our  ways,  neither  his  thoughts 
like  our  thoughts.  I  pray  that  I  may  never 
lose  sight  of  my  original  state  by  nature,  nor  of 
the  exceeding  wickedness  of  my  former  prac- 
tices, nor  yet  my  manifold  imperfections  and 
shortcomings,  lest,  being  lifted  up  with  spirit- 
ual pride,  I  should  think  myself  to  be  some- 
thing when  I  am  nothing. 

"  Friday,  31st.  Passing  the  Berry  Islands, 
with  a  pleasant  breeze  and  delightful  weather. 
I  never  come  this  way  without  noticing  how  ex- 
actly the  temperature  of  this  climate  suits  my 
habit  and  constitution,  and  I  often  wish  these 
islands  were  fertile  and  inhabited,  that  I  might 
find  an  abode  where  the  cold  winds  of  the  north 
could  not  reach  me,  and  where  the  summer  heat 
would  not  relax  the  system  as  it  does  in  the 
southern  sections  of  my  own  country.  But  why 
should  I  make  calculations,  or  imagine  that  this 
or  that  country,  or  place,  or  society  would  af- 
ford those  pleasures  which  are  unfading,  dur- 
able, and  pure  ?" 

His  experience  found  itself  portrayed  in  the 
lines  of  Madam  Guyon : 


A    SOURCE    OF    ANXIETY    AND    DEPRESSION.    21  1 

Thou,  Lord,  alone,  art  all  thy  children  need, 

And  there  is  none  beside : 
From  thee  the  streams  of  blessedness  proceed ; 

In  thee  the  bless'd  abide. 
Fountain  of  life  and  all-abounding  grace, 
Oar  source,  oar  center,  and  oar  dwelling  place. 

With  me  remains  nor  place  nor  time, 

My  country  is  in  every  clime  : 
I  can  be  safe  and  free  from  care 

On  every  shore,  for  God  is  there. 

"  But  ah  !  the  thought  that  my  wife  is  still  in 
the  gall  of  bitterness  and  bond  of  iniquity  often 
makes  me  go  mourning  all  the  day  long.  When 
I  reflect  on  her  situation  as  a  sinner,  and  ap- 
parently becoming  more  and  more  insensible  of 
her  sad  state,  and  when  I  find,  also,  her  unwill- 
ingness to  converse  on  the  subject  of  religion, 
and,  at  the  same  time,  fear  she  indulges  some 
kind  of  a  false  hope,  I  feel  under  serious  appre- 
hensions for  her  eternal  welfare,  and  cease  not  to 
pray  for  her,  although,  I  may  add,  with  a  feeble 
hope.  But  I  endeavor  still  to  commend  her  to 
the  mercy  of  God,  who  is  a  wise  and  holy  sov- 
ereign, and  who  has  a  right  to  do  with  his  creat- 
ures as  seemeth  good  in  his  sight.  I  beseech 
the  Lord,  for  Christ's  sake,  to  give  me  grace  to 
pray  for  her  more  fervently,  and  from  pure  and 
holy  motives,  that  his  name  may  be  glorified 
in  her  salvation.  O  Lord,  let  her  not  perish 


212  CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

through  my  sin  and  unfaithfulness.  Saturday, 
first  of  November.  Light  winds  and  very  un- 
pleasant weather  :  sailing  over  the  Banks  all  the 
past  night  and  this  day,  in  three  fathoms  water. 
The  thermometer  is  generally  about  seventy- 
eight  degrees — to-day  it  stands  at  eighty-one 
degrees  ;  but,  notwithstanding  the  weather  is 
warm,  it  is  by  no  means  oppressive.  At  three 
P.  M.,  it  being  nearly  calm,  and  not  wishing  to 
go  off  the|Banks  with  so  light  a  wind,  we  came 
to  anchor  in  ten  fathoms  water. 

"  We  continued  at  anchor  until  the  day  fol- 
lowing, when,  at  two  P.  M.,  a  smart  breeze  sud- 
denly sprung  up  from  the  northward  and  east- 
ward, which  we  readily  embraced  by  getting 
under  way  and  standing  on  our  course.  We 
steered  west-southwest,  going  eight  miles  per 
hour.  At  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  watch 
on  deck  supposed  they  saw  breakers  ahead, 
which,  for  the  instant,  threw  us  in  the  utmost 
confusion.  The  ship  was  immediately  wore 
round,  and  brought  under  snug  sail  until  morn- 
ing. Then,  having  discovered  the  Double-head- 
ed-shot Keys  as  far  as  we  could  see  to  the  east- 
ward, we  concluded  that  our  fears  had  been 
groundless.  Tried  the  temperature  of  the 
water,  and  found  it  seventy-eight  degrees,  and 
the  air,  in  the  shade,  seventy-four.  Thursday, 


PAIXED  BY  THE  SIGHT  OK  ^ABBATII-BREAKIVU. 


6th.  The  wind  continued  favorable :  at  two 
P.  M.,  saw  the  land  about  the  Balize  bearing 
west  three  leagues. 

"  Sabbath,  9tb.  The  holy  Scriptures  declare 
this  is  the  day  the  Lord  hath  made.  But,  alas ! 
how  little  is  it  regarded  by  many  on  ship  or 
shore ;  and  what  numerous  occasions  does  the 
water-business  give  men  for  profaning  the  Lord's 
day  by  working  thereupon,  without  exposing 
them  to  the  censures  of  the  godly  and  Sabbath- 
keeping.  But  they  forget  that  the  Sabbath's 
avenging  Lord  is  eyeing  them,  and  is  sure  to 
bring  them  up : 

"  •  Who  restctli  not  one  day  in  seven, 
That  poul  shall  never  rest  in  heaven.' 

My  soul  is  grieved  at  seeing  all  hands  on  board, 
with  about  twenty  slaves  besides,  employed  in 
warping  the  ship  through  the  English  Turn, 
with  the  wind  ahead — a  thing  for  which  none 
can  plead  the  least  pretense  of  necessity. 

"  I  can  not  help  remarking  the  power  of  un- 
belief in  the  carnal  heart,  and  the  determination 
which  it  manifests  to  reject  every  thing  which 
does  not  accord  with  its  own  notion.  A  strik- 
ing instance  of  this  I  have  noticed  in  the  con- 
duct and  conversation  of  our  captain.  He 
seems  willing  to  allow  that  the  Scriptures  con- 
tain many  things  which  are  excellent,  and  well 


214        CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 


calculated  to  promote  the  good  of  mankind,  but 
by  no  means  acknowledges  that  the  whole  of  it 
is  the  word  of  God,  and  absolutely  considers 
some  part  of  it  too  horrible  ever  to  have  been 
published ;  and  yet  allows  that  those  who  live 
strictly  according  to  its  requirements  will  event- 
ually have  the  advantage  of  all  others,  but  says 
he  wishes  he  had  never  read  it. 

"  Respecting  his  conclusions  relative  to  the 
Bible,  he  is  confirmed  in  his  opinion  by  observ- 
ing that  many  of  those  who  profess  to  believe 
its  authenticity,  and  to  take  it  for  their  rule 
and  guide,  do  not  appear  to  be  better  men  than 
others,  nor  is  it  discoverable  that  they  are  in- 
fluenced by  purer  principles.  Would  to  God 
these  remarks  did  not  apply  to  myself.  I  blush 
and  am  ashamed  to  think  how  often  I  have  oc- 
casioned a  reproach  to  religion.  O  Lord,  cleanse 
me  from  secret  faults,  and  keep  back  thy  serv- 
ant from  presumptuous  sins ;  let  them  not  have 
the  dominion  over  me.  Through  thy  grace  I 
will  endeavor  to  be  more  consistent." 


JEHOVAH,  sov'reign  of  my  heart! 

My  joy  by  night  and  day  ! 
From  thee,  oh !  never  more  I'll  part, 

From  thee  ne'er  go  astray. 


THK    i:r.<;r\i:RATE  3OUL.     215 


Whene'er  allurements  round  me  stand 

And  tempt  me  from  my  choice, 
Oh !  let  me  find  thy  gracious  hand ; 

Oh !  let  me  bear  thy  voice. 
This  vain  and  feeble  heart,  I  know, 

To  worldly  ways  is  prone ; 
But  penitential  tears  shall  show 

There's  joy  in  thee  alone. 
With  God  all  darkness  turns  to  day; 

With  him  all  sorrows  flee ; 
Thou  art  the  true  and  living  way. 

And  I  will  walk  in  thee. 


216  CAPTAIN    OBADIAH    CONGAR. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

BUSINESS,  BENEVOLENCE,   AND    MENTAL    EXERCISES 
ON    SHORE    CONTINUED. 

THUS,  lady,  fares  the  man  that  hath  prepared 
A  Rest  for  his  desires;  and  sees  all  things 
Beneath  him  ;  and  hath  learned  this  Book  of  Man, 
Full  of  the  notes  of  frailty ;  and  compared 
The  best  of  glory  with  her  sufferings: 
By  whom  I  see  you  labor  all  you  can 
To  plant  your  heart,  and  set  your  thoughts  as  near 
His  glorious  Mansion  as  your  powers  can  bear. 

OLD  DANIEL. 

UP  to  the  year  1828  Captain  Congar  contin- 
ued to  spend  his  winters  in  Natchez,  doing  bus- 
iness successfully  with  the  assortments  of  goods 
which  he  brought  with  him  from  the  North 
from  year  to  year.  He  engaged  zealously  in 
the  Sabbath  school  and  the  support  of  religious 
ordinances  in  the  Southwest,  and  was  much  es- 
teemed by  a  circle  of  Christian  friends  as  a  man 
of  high  integrity,  conscientiousness,  and  relig- 
ious zeal.  He  records  frequently,  with  devout 
gratitude,  his  providential  deliverances  by  sea 
and  land  in  going  to  and  fro,  sometimes  on  the 
floating  steam  volcanoes  of  the  Mississippi  and 


AFFECTIONATE    DESIRE?    AS    A    Ht'SBAND.    217 

other  waters  of  the  West,  sometimes  in  the  dan- 
gerous navigation  of  the  Capes  of  Florida. 

The  malignant  diseases  of  the  climate,  as  the 
bilious,  yellow,  and  coast  fevers,  he  was  happi- 
ly preserved  from ;  but  both  himself  and  wife 
had  occasional  attacks  of  the  fever  and  ague, 
which  few  at  that  time  escaped.  During  an 
illness  of  his  wife  at  Natchez  in  1826,  his  affec- 
tion as  a  tender  husband  and  Christian  was 
sorely  tried.  "  How,"  said  he,  "  did  my  bow- 
els yearn  over  her,  when,  in  an  agony  of  pain, 
she  would  cry  for  mercy !  Her  distress,  during 
these  paroxysms,  has  torn  my  very  heart  with 
grief  and  dismay.  Oh  !  that  she  might  indeed 
find  mercy  for  the  sake  of  Jesus  Christ,  who 
hath  opened  a  door  of  mercy  through  his  aton- 
ing blood,  even  for  those  who,  sensible  of  their 
misery,  come  to  him  at  the  eleventh  hour.  Al- 
though I  felt  unwilling  to  leave  her  for  a  mo- 
ment, yet  I  was  constrained  to  retire  for  a  little 
when  an  opportunity  offered,  to  plead  at  the 
throne  of  grace  on  her  behalf.  I  wrestled  in 
her  behalf  that  this  sore  trial  might  be  sancti- 
fied to  her,  and  be  made  the  means  of  bringing 
her  to  see  that  she  needed  salvation  from  sin  as 
well  as  from  suffering.  Through  the  Divine 
goodness,  she  was  soon  restored  to  usual  health 
again." 


ii!8         CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAH. 

In  the  summer  of  1829  we  find  him  establish- 
ed in  business  at  Savannah,  Georgia,  and  this 
is  a  fragment  of  his  autobiography  on  entering 
upon  his  sixty-second  year:  "June  27th,  1829. 
I  have  now  the  satisfaction  to  record  the  good- 
ness of  Almighty  God  to  me  in  the  numerous 
instances  of  his  kindness  through  every  period 
of  my  existence,  and  particularly  for  permitting 
me  to  enter  upon  the  sixty-second  year  of  my 
age  in  so  much  health,  enjoying  the  use  of  my 
reason,  surrounded  with  friends,  and  especially 
favored  with  a  comfortable  hope  that  my  sins 
are  pardoned  and  my  name  written  in  heaven, 
through  the  boundless  mercy  of  God  in  Christ 
Jesus,  to  whom  be  glory  forever,  Amen.  I 
have,  indeed,  great  reason  to  be  humbled  for 
my  sins  of  the  year  past,  as  well  as  of  my  whole 
life.  May  I  henceforth  redeem  my  misspent 
time,  and  weave  more  carefully  my  warp  of 
life,  since  its  threads  must  be  nearly  through. 
Many  things  are  admonishing  me  of  life's  un- 
certainty. Day  before  yesterday  this  city  was 
visited  with  a  destructive  storm  of  lightning 
and  rain.  The  thunderbolts  were  in  such  swift 
and  startling  succession  that  men  thought  the 
artillery  of  the  last  day  was  discharging  upon 
them,  and  that  the  advance  couriers  of  the  judg- 
ment had  come.  A  woman  and  her  child,  about 


SHORT  RELAPSE  INTO  DESPONDENCY.   219 

four  years  of  age,  were  killed  instantly.  A 
horse  was  also  killed,  a  vessel's  mast  shivered, 
and  a  house  struck.  Verily,  in  the  midst  of 
life  we  are  in  death.  Oh !  may  my  future  days, 
be  they  many  or  few,  be  devoted  to  the  service 
of  my  God  and  Savior,  that  when  death  comes; 
whether  suddenly  or  with  long  warning,  I  may 
have  nothing  to  do  but  die." 

In  the  winter  of  1830,  his  business  being 
depressed,  and  being  afflicted  also  with  sore 
sickness  in  his  family,  he  seems  to  have  fallen 
again  into  a  state  of  painful  despondency.  Re- 
membering that  as  iron  sharpeneth  iron,  so 
doth  the  countenance  of  a  man  his  friend,  he 
wisely  called  upon  two  of  the  elders  of  the 
Church,  and  freely  communicated  with  them 
respecting  his  spiritual  concerns.  They  treat- 
ed him,  he  says,  with  great  kindness  and  skill, 
and  prayed  with  him,  and  from  this  time  for- 
ward his  mind  was  much  relieved,  and  was  en- 
abled in  a  measure,  as  before,  to  rejoice  in  the 
Lord.  But  the  situation  of  his  wife,  both  as 
to  her  bodily  and  spiritual  estate,  excited  his 
deepest  solicitude. 

In  April  we  find  him  saying,  "It  is  with  a 
degree  of  heartfelt  gratitude  to  Almighty  God 
that  I  am  enabled  once  more  to  cherish  a  com- 
fortable hope  that  I  have  found  mercy  and 


220         CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 


grace  in  his  sight.  I  am  still,  indeed,  oppressed 
with  a  deep  sense  of  sin  and  of  the  awful  de- 
pravity of  the  human  heart,  but  I  am  freed  in 
a  good  degree  from  that  dark,  despairing  frame 
of  mind  which  seemed  almost  to  overwhelm 
me  at  times.  I  trust  God  is  faithful.  Jesus 
Christ  is  the  same  yesterday,  to-day,  and  for- 
ever. I  hope  I  have  committed  my  cause  to 
him,  and  that  he  hath  heard  my  prayers ;  and 
I  think  I  feel  thankful  for  those  chastisements 
which  have  been  the  means  of  bringing  me  to 
consider  my  ways  and  doings,  which  were  not 
good. 

"  I  have  found  the  exercises  and  solemnities 
of  the  communion  season  well  suited  to  relieve 
the  mind  of  the  doubting  and  desponding  sin- 
ner who  still  hopes  the  Lord  has  not  utterly 
forsaken  him,  who  still  hopes  the  Spirit  of  grace 
is  exciting  him  to  a  more  firm  and  uniform  re- 
liance on  the  mercy  of  God  in  Christ  for  every 
blessing,  and  waiting  and  longing  for  new  and 
brighter  discoveries  of  the  Divine  perfections, 
and  for  a  more  complete  deliverance  from  the 
bondage  of  sin.  I  think  I  can  say  in  truth  that, 
in  general,  from  the  communion  season  until 
this  day,  I  have  experienced  some  sweet  tokens 
of  the  Lord's  kindness. 

••  Tuesday,  August  24th.  This  day  has  been 


GRACIOUS    TOKENS    OF    DIVINE    FAVOH.       221 


recommended  by  our  pastor  to  be  observed  as  a 
day  of  fasting,  humiliation,  and  prayer,  that 
God  would  revive  the  languishing  graces  of  his 
own  people,  and  stir  them  up  to  a  greater  con- 
cern for  his  glory  and  the  salvation  of  souls. 
At  ten  A.M.  a  goodly  number  met,  and  the  ex- 
ercises were  interesting,  and  such  as  were  cal- 
culated to  arouse  the  slumbering  Christian  and 
bring  the  unhumbled  sinner  to  feel  his  danger. 
As  regards  myself,  my  mind  for  some  days  past 
has  been  more  than  ordinarily  employed  with 
serious  thoughts  relative  to  my  own  spiritual 
condition'  Methinks  I  have  seen  more  and 
more  of  the  deceitfulness  of  my  heart  than  ever, 
and  I  do  groan,  being  burdened.  I  fear  I  have 
thought  myself  to  be  something  when  I  was 
nothing.  I  am  resolved,  by  Divine  assistance, 
to  watch  my  heart  and  life  with  more  care,  and 
to  make  it  my  business  to  compare,  not  only 
my  outward  conduct,  but  the  temple  of  my 
heart,  with  the  requirements  of  the  Gospel,  and 
to  bring  all  my  thoughts  and  actions  to  that 
test.  I  feel  resolved  to  engage  in  good  earnest 
in  a  holy  warfare  with  the  powers  of  darkness, 
and  not  to  spare  my  own  lusts  and  corruptions, 
but  seek  to  have  them  all  slain  through  the 
power  of  the  great  Captain  of  my  salvation. 
Satan,  I  know,  will  roar  and  fling  hi*  fiery 


222        CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

darts.  Dear  Savior,  shield  me,  and  grant  me 
deliverance,  that  I  may  yet  sing  a  song  of  vic- 
tory, and  praise  thy  name  for  thy  loving  kind- 
ness and  for  thy  truth." 

Oh  !  that  I  had  not  this  divided  heart, 

A  mind  self-sunder'd,  and  at  war  within ; 
Which  gives,  or  seems  to  give,  to  Heaven  a  part, 

But  gives,  alas!  a  greater  part  to  sin. 
Sometimes  I  think  the  victory  to  gain, 

And  plant  my  standard  on  the  heavenly  height ; 
But  suddenly  imperious  passions  reign, 

And  put  my  faithfulness  and  hopes  to  Sight. 
My  conscience  prompts  me  to  the  better  way, 

The  Holy  Spirit  makes  it  still  more  clear; 
But  foul  temptation  leads  my  steps  astray, 

And  heaven  is  lost,  because  the  world  is  dear. 
'Tis  he  in  triumph  and  in  peace  shall  run 

The  Christian's  trying  race,  whose  heart,  whose 
soul  is  one. 

His  business  adventures  not  succeeding  in 
Savannah  so  prosperously  as  they  had  hoped 
for,  and  restlessness  in  his  family  consequent, 
probably  in  great  degree,  upon  ill  health  calling 
for  a  change,  Captain  Congar  removed  in  1831 
to  St.  Augustine,  East  Florida,  not,  he  said, 
that  it  offered  much  as  a  place  of  business,  but 
as  a  climate  more  congenial  to  their  habits  and 
constitutions  than  any  other  in  the  United 
States.  He  purchased  a  small  homestead  and 
store  there,  with  the  design  of  a  permanent 


LIFE    AND    LABO&S    AT    ST.   AUGL'STINE.      223 

abode  for  the  remainder  of  his  days ;  and  he  en- 
gaged in  humble  religious  labors,  in  connection 
with  the  Presbyterian  Church,  with  his  wonted 
zeal  and  conscientiousness,  obtaining,  in  a  high 
degree,  the  confidence  of  the  whole  community, 
and  the  warm  regard  of  a  circle  of  friends. 

But  in  the  year  1838,  a  settled  dissatisfac- 
tion in  his  family,  arising,  in  part,  from  an  in- 
terruption of  friendly  intercourse  with  the  di- 
rectors of  the  St.  Augustine  Banking  Institution, 
and  more,  perhaps,  from  internal  unrest  and  dis- 
quiet, compelled  him,  though  ^sorely  against  his 
will,  to  transfer  his  residence  first  to  St.  Mary's, 
Georgia,  and  thence  to  Jacksonville,  Florida, 
meanwhile  visiting  at  the  North.  His  desire 
to  do  good  and  to  glorify  God  held  him  fast 
through  changes  that  were  far  from  satisfactory 
or  profitable  to  one  in  his  years. 

On  his  seventieth  birth-day,  June  27th,  1838, 
being  on  a  visit  to  Newark,  surveying  the  mer- 
cies of  his  active  and  green  old  age,  and  look- 
ing beyond  the  cloud  that  just  then  hung  over 
him,  we  find  him  thus  resolving,  as  in  the  vig- 
or of  youth :  "  To  use  the  world  as  not  abusing 
it,  renouncing  it  as  his  portion,  and  keeping  it 
under  foot ;  to  resist  the  powers  of  darkness,  and 
to  live  to  the  glory  of  God.  It  is.  indeed,  but 
little  I  can  expect  to  do  the  remainder  of  rny 


224  CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

days,  either  for  God  my  Maker,  Christ  my  Re- 
deemer, or  my  fellow-man.  I  consider  my  days 
of  activity  and  usefulness,  if,  indeed,  I  have  ever 
been  useful,  nearly  at  an  end.  But  I  beseech 
the  Most  High  to  succor  and  strengthen  me  to 
do  his  will,  and  to  enable  me  to  bear  up  under 
the  trials,  vicissitudes,  and  changes  of  this  mor- 
tal life  without  complaining,  trusting  in  his 
name  that  all  will  be  well. 

"  We  remained  in  New  York  and  among  our 
friends  until  the  beginning  of  September  fol- 
lowing. After  much  deliberation  and  prayer, 
it  was  finally  agreed  upon  by  us  both  that  it 
would  be  best  to  return  to  Florida  as  soon  as 
convenient,  and  with  a  view  to  locate  ourselves 
at  Jacksonville  (a  new  place),  about  twenty 
miles  from  the  St.  John's  Bar." 

Having  purchased  a  new  stock  of  goods 
with  this  view,  they  took  passage  in  the  schoon- 
er Essex,  Captain  Jeffery.  Just  after  leaving 
New  York  they  experienced  a  heavy  gale  of 
wind,  and  lost  both  anchors ;  but,  having  ob- 
tained a  pilot,  they  were  successful  in  running 
the  vessel  upon  the  beach,  without  loss  of  life^ 
The  wind  afterward  subsiding,  the  vessel  was 
lightened,  got  off,  and  taken  to  the  city  for  re- 
pairs. 

On  the  thirtieth  day  of  September  they  em- 


SETTLEMENT    AT    JACKSONVILLE.  225 

barked  again,  and,  after  a  pleasant  passage  of 
nine  days,  arrived  safe  over  the  St.  John's  Bar. 
Reaching  Jacksonville  on  the  twelfth  of  October, 
he  says,  "  We  engaged  a  house,  landed  our 
goods,  and  commenced  business  immediately. 
Thus  far  the  Lord  has  led  me  on.  Thus  far 
his  power  prolongs  my  days." 

Here  Captain  Congar  was  permitted  to  spend 
a  period  of  seven  years,  respected,  beloved,  and 
useful,  up  to  that  immediately  preceding  the 
date  of  his  death.  On  the  anniversary  of  his 
seventy-third  birth-day  there  is  this  entry: 
"  My  earthly  race  is  well-nigh  run.  I  shall 
have  little  more  to  do  with  a  world  in  arms 
against  its  Sovereign,  the  great  and  mighty 
God.  With  that  Sovereign  I  have  an  advo- 
cate, even  Jesus  Christ  the  righteous,  and  he  is 
the  propitiation  for  my  sins.  O  blessed  Ad- 
vocate, plead  my  cause,  do  all  for  me,  and 
strengthen  me  to  do  and  to  suffer  all  thou  wilt 
appoint  me ;  and  all  the  days  of  my  appointed 
time  let  me  wait  till  my  change  come,  and  be 
more  consistent  than  I  have  been  as  a  member 
of  the  community,  as  the  head  of  a  family,  and 
as  a  professed  follower  of  the  Lamb. 

"  It  was  the  Psalmist's  saying,  '  One  thing 
have  I  desired,  that  will  I  seek  after.'     This  do 
I  pant  after  with  my  whole  heart,  to  be  emp- 
P 


226        CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAE. 

tied  of  self  and  the  world,  and  filled,  like  a  va- 
cant vessel,  with  all  the  fullness  of  God.  The 
world  is  dead  to  me,  and  I  am  dead  to  the 
world,  though  still  busy  in  it.  Its  maxims,  its 
fashions,  its  amusements,  its  pleasures,  its  ac- 
quisitions, how  gladly  I  can  quit  them  all." 

World,  adieu,  thou  real  cheat, 

Oft  have  thy  deceitful  charms 
Fill'd  my  heart  with  fond  conceit, 

Foolish  hopes  and  false  alarms : 
Now  I  see  as  clear  as  day 
How  thy  follies  pass  away. 

Vain  thy  entertaining  eights ; 

False  thy  promises  renew'd ; 
All  the  pomp  of  thy  delights 

Does  but  flatter  and  delude : 
Thee  I  quit  for  heaven  above, 
Object  of  the  noblest  love. 

"  Could  I  be  sure  that  my  days  of  usefulness 
were  at  an  end  which  my  heavenly  Father  ap- 
points to  me,  I  think  I  could  have  done  with  all 
terrestrial  things  without  one  sigh  but  that  I 
had  not  better  served  my  Lord  and  Master. 
The  hopes  which  religion  inspires  are  now  my 
only  solace  in  the  worldly  work  which  I  have 
still  to  do.  The  cares  and  business  of  this  life 
only  harass  and  vex  ;  the  consolations  of  relig- 
ion calm  and  soothe.  Oh !  that  the  longer  I 
dwell  here,  the  more  I  may  become  transformed 


MOUNT    PISGAH    CLIMBED.  227 

into  the  image  of  my  Savior ;  that,  when  death 
comes,  I  may  doff  all  mortal  fear,  and  shout  in 
triumph,  through  Him  who  makes  me  conquer, 
'  O  Death,  where  is  thy  sting !  O  Grave, 
where  is  thy  victory  !' " 


SOMETIMES  I  upward  lift  mine  eyes, 

And,  fill'd  with  pleasure,  see 
The  happy  hosts  that  throng  the  skies, 

The  blood-wash'd  company. 
How  beautiful  their  robes,  I  say ; 

Their  garments  all,  how  white ! 
Fair  as  the  sun's  ascending  ray, 

And  clear  as  noon-day  light. 

Oh  Savior,  thou  hast  made  them  clean, 

The  garments  they  do  wear ; 
And  all  who  wash  in  thee  their  sin, 

May  in  those  garments  share. 
Let  me,  too,  wear  that  spotless  dress, 

Its  beauty  may  I  prove : 
That  robe  of  finish'd  holiness, 

The  garb  of  perfect  love ! 


228        CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

LIFE,  LABORS,  AND   EXPERIENCE   AT  JACKSONVILLE. 

THAT  man  may  last,  but  never  lives, 
Who  much  receives,  but  nothing  gives ; 
Whom  none  can  love,  whom  none  can  thank, 
Creation's  blot,  creation's  blank. 
But  he  who  marks,  from  day  to  day, 
In  generous  acts  his  radiant  way, 
Treads  the  same  path  his  Savior  trod, 
The  path  to  glory  and  to  God. — GIBBONS. 

IN  accordance  with  his  usual  energy  and  zeal 
in  the  things  of  religion,  Captain  Congar  had 
not  been  long  in  Jacksonville  before  we  find 
him  earnestly  engaged  in  measures  for  its  mor- 
al and  spiritual  improvement.  His  record  of 
events  and  of  personal  observations  and  doings 
there  is  not  so  full  as  in  years  before,  but  some- 
thing is  supplied  by  letters  to  friends. 

In  a  communication  to  a  sister  in  Newark, 
dated  Jacksonville,  East  Florida,  August  15th, 
1842,  he  says  :  "  I  have  several  subjects  which 
call  my  attention  in  writing  you  at  this  time, 
and  which  I  might  touch  upon  a  little ;  but  it 
is  sometimes  with  me  as  it  is  with  some  preach- 
ers I  have  heard,  who,  having  arranged  their  in- 
tended discourse  under  several  heads,  commence 


RECAPITULATION    OP    MERCIES.  229 

thus :  '  In  the  first  place,  let  me  call  your  at- 
tention to  the  consideration  of  the  first  clause  of 
such  a  verse;'  after  which  they  forget  to  say 
any  thing  about  the  second,  third,  or  fourth 
place,  and  go  on  promiscuously.  But  on  this 
occasion  I  say,  in  the  first  place,  Mary  and  my- 
self have  both  been  highly  favored  with  usual 
health  ;  not  that  we  are  altogether  without  the 
infirmities  of  human  nature,  and  especially  of 
years,  but  we  know  nothing,  since  we  came  to 
this  place,  of  lingering  disease ;  this  I  esteem  a 
comfort  which  demands  corresponding  grati- 
tude to  our  Almighty  preserver  and  benefactor. 
"  We  have,  in  the  second  place,  been  deliver- 
ed from  the  hand  of  the  savage  foe,  who  have 
been  permitted  to  deal  death  and  destruction  to 
many  families  not  far  distant.  3d.  We  have 
been  protected  from  the  devouring  element, 
which  has  often  consumed  in  a  few  moments 
all  that  man  could  call  his  own  on  this  whirling 
globe.  4th.  Though  not  in  affluence,  we  have 
a  competency  of  such  things  as  are  needful. 
5th.  We  now  have  the  Gospel  preached  every 
Sabbath,  and,  although  we  have  no  evidences 
of  awakenings  among  us,  yet  a  degree  of  deco- 
rum and  good  order  has  prevailed  which  would 
do  credit  to  some  villages  in  the  land  of  steady 
habits. 


230        CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

"  Our  social  intercourse  with  our  neighbors 
is  mostly  of  a  friendly  character,  and  perhaps 
there  is  no  place  of  the  same  size  in  our  land 
where  there  is  less  poverty  or  absolute  want 
than  in  Jacksonville ;  and  if  we  do  not  recog- 
nize the  good  hand  of  God  in  all  these  mercies, 
it  will  be  more  tolerable  for  the  land  of  Sodom 
and  Gomorrah  in  the  day  of  judgment  than  for 
us.  A  great  moral  improvement  has  taken 
place  within  the  last  two  years.  Profaneness, 
Sabbath-breaking,  and  intemperance  abounded 
to  an  alarming  degree  when  we  first  came  here, 
and,  although  we  can  hardly  say  the  people  of 
Jacksonville  are  a  church-going  people,  yet 
numbers  do  attend,  let  who  will  preach. 

"  It  is  a  long  time  since  I  have  heard  of  any 
new  and  extensive  revivals  of  religion  any  where. 
Are  Christians  awake  to  this  momentous  con- 
cern ?  I  sometimes  fear,  much  fear,  that  the 
whole  Church  has  become  greatly  conformed  to 
the  world,  although  it  is  so  clearly  enjoined 
upon  us  to  set  our  affections  on  things  above, 
and  not  on  things  of  this  world.  St.  James 
says,  '  Whosoever  will  be  a  friend  of  the  world 
is  the  enemy  of  God.'  How  should  we  take 
care  in  this,  as  well  as  all  other  matters  that 
concern  our  usefulness  here,  and  our  everlasting 
destiny  beyond  the  bounds  of  time  and  sense. 


EARTH    RENOUNCED HEAVEN   ANTICIPATED.    231 

Let  us  pray  for  each  other,  and  for  all  our  dear 
friends,  some  of  whom,  we  have  reason  to  fear, 
are  yet  strangers  to  God  and  Christ,  and  in  love 
with  darkness.  You,  and  I,  and  more  of  us 
have  got  far  on  our  journey  toward  another 
world,  and  the  admonition,  '  Set  thine  house  in 
order,'  may,  and  ought  to  be  listened  to  by  us 
as  a  voice  from  God.  I  think  I  can  say  from 
the  heart,  with  our  favorite  Watts,  '  Heaven  is 
before,  and  the  world  behind.' 

"  '  Lord,  I  renounce  my  carnal  taste 

Of  the  fair  fruit  that  sinners  prize  ; 
Their  paradise  no  more  shall  waste 
One  thought  of  mine,  but  to  despise. 

Come,  heaven,  and  fill  my  vast  desires; 

My  soul  pursues  the  sovereign  good : 
She  was  all  made  of  heavenly  fires. 

Nor  can  she  live  on  meaner  food.' 

That  the  Lord,  in  mercy,  may  take  charge  of 
us  all  while  we  are  sojourning  here,  and,  through 
his  abounding  goodness  in  Christ  Jesus,  bring 
us,  with  all  our  dear  friends,  to  meet  in  a  bet- 
ter world,  is  the  desire  and  prayer  of  your  affec- 
tionate but  unworthy  brother, 

"  OBADIAH  CONGAR." 

In  December  of  1843,  four  others  having 
united  with  Captain  Congar  in  church-fellow- 
ship, they  were  duly  organized  into  the  First 


232        CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

Presbyterian  Church  of  Jacksonville,  in  connec- 
tion with  the  presbytery  of  Georgia,  Rev.  Mr. 
Baird,  from  St.  Mary's,  being  present  with  them 
as  a  delegate  from  that  body.  Mr.  William  B. 
Barton  and  Captain  Congar  were  at  once  elect- 
ed and  ordained  elders.  "  The  Sabbath  day  fol- 
lowing," says  the  journal,  "  being  the  thirty- 
first  of  December,  the  significant  and  touching 
rite  of  the  Lord's  Supper  was  administered  to 
our  little  number,  and,  at  the  same  time,  one 
new  male  member  was  added  to  the  church  by 
examination,  viz.,  Stephen  Eddy,  from  Massa- 
chusetts, for  several  years  a  resident  of  this  vil- 
lage, making  our  whole  number  six.  Thus  ends 
the  year  1843.  The  mercies  and  favors  be- 
stowed on  me  during  the  course  of  it  have  been 
like  a  running  river  :  they  have  flowed  on  from 
the  fountain  of  God's  goodness  without  ever 
once  stopping.  Oh  that  my  gratitude  and  obe- 
dience might  correspond!  How  weighty,  and 
yet,  because  of  its  sweetness,  how  light  is  the 
obligation  which  rests  upon  me,  to  consecrate 
the  few  remaining  days  I  may  yet  have  below 
to  the  service  of  my  covenant-keeping  God  and 
Redeemer.  Oh  that  I  could  realize  my  entire 
dependence  on  the  grace  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  to  furnish  me  with  every  needed  good  for 
this  world,  but  especially  to  furnish  me  with 


HOPES  AND  DESIRES  OF  THE  GRACIOUS  SOUL.    233 

heavenly  armor,  that  I  may  fight  the  battles 
of  the  Lord  as  a  good  soldier  of  Jesus  Christ, 
and  be  enabled  to  resist  every  adversary  that 
would  oppose  my  march  onward  to  a  better 
world. 

"  Through  Divine  assistance,  I  am  resolved, 
though  old,  to  set  out  anew  in  this  heavenly 
enterprise.  But  when  I  look  back  and  see  how 
many  vows  have  been  broken,  how  many  reso- 
lutions to  be  more  faithful,  and  more  exempla- 
ry, and  more  consistent  have  fallen  short,  were 
it  not  for  the  promise  of  God  to  keep  by  his 
power,  through  faith  unto  salvation,  all  who 
have  chosen  him  for  their  everlasting  portion, 
my  soul  would  sink  into  despondency.  Through 
his  grace,  grace  only,  I  hope  to  persevere  unto 
the  end.  My  soul,  wait  thou  only,  only,  only 
upon  God  :  my  expectation  is  from  him." 

Oh,  could  I  rule  each  erring  thought, 

Each  wrong  desire  subdue ; 
And  serve  my  Maker  as  I  ought, 

And  thou  wouldst  have  me  do : 
Oh,  could  I  discipline  my  mind 

To  seek  the  heavenly  goal ; 
Nor  strive  in  earthly  things  to  find 

A  treasure  for  the  soul- 
Then  should  my  lips  no  more  complain, 

Sin  only  makes  my  grief; 
And  Thou,  that  givest  ease  for  pain, 

Wouldst  quickly  bring  relief: 


234        CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

Ascendent  over  time  and  sense, 

My  feet  should  upward  move, 
Protected  by  thy  providence, 

Rejoicing  in  thy  love. 

"Monday,  January  1st,  1844,  finds  me  in 
the  experience  of  countless  blessings  from  my 
heavenly  Father.  My  health,  indeed,  is  not 
very  good,  but  yet  I  enjoy  much  more  than  I 
suffer.  My  family  has  been  spared  to  me,  and 
I  to  them.  Our  worldly  substance,  though  not 
increasing,  is  yet  sufficient  for  our  present 
wants ;  and  we  think,  with  good  reason,  the 
state  of  society  is  fast  improving  among  us. 
There  is  now  far  less  intemperance,  Sabbath- 
breaking,  and  open  vice  and  immorality  here 
than  when  I  came  to  this  place.  Preaching, 
also,  is  performed  almost  every  Sabbath  through 
the  year.  And  now,  if  it  be  my  Father's  will 
to  keep  me  here  another  year,  may  I  be  more 
humble,  more  meek,  more  patient,  more  engaged 
in  the  all-important  duties  of  religion,  in  serv- 
ing my  God  and  Savior,  and  striving  to  do 
good  to  my  fellow-men ;  bearing  up  under  the 
trials  of  life  without  murmuring;  submitting 
myself  to  my  heavenly  Father  in  all  things ; 
always  keeping  in  mind  that  my  final  dissolu- 
tion is  drawing  nigh,  and  that  the  great  day  of 
account  is  at  hand." 


ANNIVERBAEY    BIRTH-DAY    THOUGHTS.       235 

Ob,  may  this  thought  posses*  my  breast, 
Where'er  I  rove,  where'er  I  rest ; 
Nor  let  my  weaker  passions  dare 
Consent  to  sin,  for  God  is  there. 

In  April  of  this  year  Captain  Congar  was 
elected  by  his  fellow-citizens  to  the  office  of  In- 
tendant,  or  Mayor,  of  Jacksonville.  With  his 
characteristic  diffidence  and  self-distrust,  he  at 
first  refused  the  honor ;  but  his  objections  were 
overruled,  and  he  filled  the  post,  it  is  believed, 
with  acceptance  and  good  ability.  His  unaf- 
fected humility  appears  in  the  notice  taken  of 
it  in  his  journal.  It  will  have  been  observed, 
also,  how  uniformly  the  subject  of  this  auto- 
biography devoted  the  anniversaries  of  his  birth 
to  special  reflection  and  review  of  his  life  and 
character  as  a  man  and  a  Christian.  This  habit 
he  continued  to  the  close  of  life ;  and  when,  in 
his  last  years,  the  entries  are  rare,  birth-days 
are  never  omitted.  At  the  close  of  his  seventy- 
seventh  year,  we  find  him  making  this  record 
in  the  words  of  the  patriarch  :  "  Few  and  evil 
have  been  the  days  of  the  years  of  my  pilgrim- 
age. Evil,  not  so  much  because  my  sufferings 
and  afflictions  have  been  great,  but  because  of 
sin,  the  greatest  evil.  This  has  been  the  pro- 
curing cause  of  all  other  evils  borne  by  me  and 
by  the  rest  of  the  human  family.  Yet  to  real- 


236  CAPTAIN    OBADIAH   CONGAR. 

ize  this  mortifying  truth  is  difficult.  I  find 
daily  the  infirmities  of  age  gaming  upon  me. 
May  I  be  suitably  affected  thereby,  and  hence- 
forth keep  my  end  in  view  more  than  ever  I 
have  yet  done,  and  especially  the  great  end  of 
my  existence  in  this  world,  the  glory  of  God. 

"It  is  not  uncommon  for  a  man  to  keep  a 
record  of  the  most  important  affairs  and  con- 
cerns of  human  life,  and  yet  it  is  not  common 
with  men  in  general  to  record  or  notice  partic- 
ularly the  day  which  ushered  them  into  life  and 
immortal  being.  I  have  often  noticed,  and  some- 
times with  a  deep  interest,  this  era  of  my  soul's 
beginning — at  least  interesting  to  my  God  and 
to  me.  My  whole  life,  though  of  little  account 
to  the  world  at  large,  is  of  great  and  momentous 
account  to  myself.  The  very  thought  that  I 
have  an  existence  as  a  free  moral  agent,  and 
that  that  existence  will  continue  to  all  eterni- 
ty, is  a  deeply  interesting  and  momentous  con- 
sideration to  every  one  of  the  human  family. 
What  have  I  then  to  do  in  order  that  this  ex- 
istence may  prove  a  blessing  to  myself  as  well 
as  to  my  family  and  to  all  with  whom  I  have 
to  do  ?  A  man's  way  is  said  by  Cecil  to  be  de- 
clarative of  his  end.  The  wise  man  concludes 
his  admonitions  and  exhortations  thus :  i  Let  us 
hear  the  conclusion  of  the  whole  matter :  fear 


INSTRUCTIVE  CONTRACTS   OF    EXPERIENCE. 

God  and  keep  his  commandments,  for  this  is 
the  whole  duty  of  man.' 

"  Saturday,  June  28th,  1845.  Yesterday, 
the  twenty-seventh,  I  commenced  the  seventy- 
eighth  year  of  my  age.  My  thoughts  were  oc- 
cupied considerably  on  the  goodness  of  God  in 
sparing  so  great  a  sinner  so  many  years,  while 
thousands,  to  appearance  far  better  than  I,  have 
long  since  been  numbered  with  the  dead.  I 
stand  a  monument  of  the  forbearance  and  pa- 
tience of  a  holy  God,  and  I  have  only  to  won- 
der that  that  patience  has  been  so  eminently 
extended  to  me,  the  chief  of  sinners,  whom  judg- 
ments and  mercies  did  so  long  fail  to  soften. 
Glory  to  his  sovereign  grace  that  I  was  ever 
brought  to  submit," 

Once  I  had  a  heart  within, 

Thankless  and  opposed  to  God, 
And,  wandering  in  the  ways  of  sin, 

In  wisdom's  ways  had  never  trod. 
Mercies  were  regarded  not, 

Judgment*  came  my  soul  to  try, 
But  in  a  moment  were  forgot, 

And  left  me  still  to  vanity. 

Bat  the  spirit  showed  at  last 

All  the  strictness  of  the  Law, 
And  as  its  mirror  o'er  me  pass'd, 

My  bean's  depravity  I  saw. 
Then  my  soul,  in  deep  despair, 

Felt  within  the  rankling  dart ; 


238        CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

But  Jesus  pluck'd  it  out  with  care, 

And  gave  a  renovated  heart. 
What  I  loved  and  sought  before, 

Pleases  me  no  longer  now ; 
But  at  the  cross  my  prayers  I  pour, 

At  my  Savior's  feet  I  bow. 

In  the  year  1846,  the  small  band  of  Presby- 
terians at  Jacksonville,  being  without  a  minis- 
ter, were  under  the  necessity  of  a  conditional 
sale  of  their  place  of  worship  to  the  Methodists. 
Captain  Congar  had  paid  nearly  three  hundred 
dollars  toward  its  erection,  and  it  was  a  grief 
of  mind  to  have  to  sell  it,  although  to  another 
evangelical  society,  who  proffered  them  the  use 
of  it  for  public  services  at  all  times  when  a 
Presbyterian  minister  should  be  present.  With 
a  practical  energy  and  zeal  seldom  evinced 
by  one  of  his  years,  he  now  set  about  obtain- 
ing materials  for  building  a  small  session  and 
conference  house  on  a  lot  of  ground  belonging 
to  himself,  for  the  purpose  of  holding  prayer- 
meetings  or  other  religious  services  when  they 
should  have  a  minister.  To  this  end  he  solic- 
ited aid  from  friends  in  the  North,  and  the  fol- 
lowing letters  were  written  in  that  quest  and 
in  acknowledgment  of  donations. 

"  Jacksonville  (E.  F.),  January  12th,  1847. 
"  MY    DEAR    AND    BELOVED    SlSTER, 1    Wrote 


LETTERS    SOLICITING    BENEVOLENCE.        239 

you  on  the  first  of  December  principally  on  a 
matter  in  which  I  have  felt  a  deep  interest. 
From  the  time  I  became  acquainted  with  this 
place  and  with  this  people,  it  has  been  my  con- 
stant study  how,  in  what  way,  and  when  might 
means  be  obtained  for  the  purpose  of  putting 
up  a  suitable  building  for  the  use  of  the  Church 
— I  mean,  where  Christians  of  all  evangelical  de- 
nominations could  meet  together  to  make  their 
common  supplications  to  the  God  of  all  mercy 
and  grace,  that  he  would  be  pleased  to  stop  the 
flood-gates  of  vice  and  iniquity  among  us,  pour 
out  his  Spirit,  and  revive  his  work  in  our  parts. 
In  the  solemn  and  regular  attendance  of  the 
followers  of  our  Lord  and  Savior  Jesus  Christ, 
a  spirit  of  union  and  good  feeling  has  often  been 
witnessed,  and  we  trust  the  prayers  and  praises 
of  the  people  of  God  have  been  heard  and  an- 
swered. When  I  came  to  this  place,  it  might 
well  be  called  a  sink  of  vice  and  open  wicked- 
ness. Through  the  mercy  and  gracious  inter- 
position of  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church,  vice 
and  immorality  have  now  received  a  check 
which  I  trust  will  continue  ;  and  could  we  get 
through  and  finish  the  building  we  have  now 
under  way,  I  hope  a  lasting  blessing  will  yet 
arise  to  this  community,  which  will  continue 
when  you  and  I  have  done  with  this  world. 


CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 


"Dear  sister,  I  feel  and  am  persuaded  that 
it  becomes  us  to  work  while  the  day  lasts,  for 
the  night  cometh  when  no  man  can  work.  I 
find  myself  failing  in  bodily  strength,  conse- 
quently I  can  do  but  little  for  the  Church  or  for 
the  world.  My  day  is  over  for  much  effort  in 
any  case,  yet  I  aim  to  do  something  for  genera- 
tions to  come.  I  have  a  little  property,  a  part 
of  which  I  have  consecrated  for  the  service  of 
God  my  Creator,  preserver,  and  glorious  Re- 
deemer. It  is  indeed  but  little  that  I  can  do, 
but  if  this  little  be  accepted,  owned,  and  blessed, 
my  desires  will  be  granted.  The  building  I  am 
now  erecting  will  seat  between  sixty  and  sev- 
enty persons,  and  is  in  a  convenient  part  of  the 
town ;  and  we  have  reason  to  expect  that  when 
it  is  opened  for  worship,  in  a  short  time  every 
seat  will  be  occupied.  My  object,  therefore,  in 
writing  you  at  this  time  is  to  solicit  aid  to  help 
me  through  with  this  business.  I  can  not  ob- 
tain the  aid  which  is  needed  in  this  place ;  and 
though  you  have  manifested  your  good-will  al- 
ready, I  hope  you  will  respond  to  my  request. 
It  is  not  likely  that  either  of  us  will  need  this 
world's  goods  much  longer ;  and  did  I  feel  at 
perfect  liberty  to  sell  a  portion  of  my  property, 
I  should  at  once  do  it,  and  devote  the  same  to 
the  purposes  of  religion  and  education  here. 


BECOMING    GRATITUDE    REVEALED.  241 

But  your  generosity  and  that  of  other  friends, 
on  whom  I  throw  myself,  may  render  it  unnec- 
essary. Confidently  commending  my  request 
to  you,  and  you  to  Him  who  loveth  and  who 
will  bless  the  cheerful  giver,  I  remain  your  sin- 
cere and  affectionate  brother, 

"  OBADIAH  CONOAR." 

"Jacksonrille,  February  9th,  1847. 

"  MY  DEAR  SISTER, — The  receipt  of  a  letter 
from  our  mutual  friend,  Mr.  Woodruff,  inform- 
ing me  that  you  had  handed  him  thirty  dollars 
as  a  contribution  toward  putting  up  a  small 
place  of  worship  which  I  am  going  on  with,  to- 
gether with  the  advice  that  our  female  relative 
and  friend  Mrs.  G.  had  also  handed  him  five 
dollars  for  the  same  purpose,  could  not  fail  to 
produce  emotions  of  gratitude  to  God  our  heav- 
enly Father  for  his  kind  interposition  in  putting 
such  thoughts  of  pious  benevolence  into  the 
hearts  of  my  dear  friends  at  such  a  distance 
from  me/  And  you,  my  dear  sister,  have  pe- 
culiar claims  of  gratitude  on  my  part,  not  sim- 
ply for  this  act  of  liberality,  but  for  the  uni- 
form and  constant  regard  which  you  have  man- 
ifested toward  me  ever  since  our  first  acquaint- 
ance. 

"ft  is  with  much  pleasure  I  reflect  on  the 

Q 


242        CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

relation  which  we  hold  to  each  other,  and  es- 
pecially that  relation  which  I  trust  will  remain 
when  time  shall  be  no  more.  Give  my  sincere 
thanks  to  Mrs.  G.  for  her  precious  gift,  which 
will  do  much  toward  aiding  me  in  completing 
the  work  I  have  undertaken.  For  your  infor- 
mation, as  well  as  for  others  who  may  take  an 
interest  in  the  cause  of  religion  in  Jacksonville, 
I  would  state,  that  the  building  is  now  under 
cover  and  the  glass  in,  and  I  have  the  satisfac- 
tion to  say  that  my  neighbors,  and  others  friend- 
ly to  religious  institutions,  think  the  house  well 
adapted  to  the  purposes  for  which  it  has  been 
erected,  namely,  for  holding  social  prayer-meet- 
ings in. 

"  For  want  of  a  suitable  place  to  hold  such 
meetings,  the  numbers  who  have  attended  for 
the  last  two  years  past  have  been  very  small. 
One  of  the  evil  consequences  of  holding  prayer- 
meetings  in  a  private  house  is,  that  the  indi- 
viduals who  come  together  on  these  occasions 
are  mostly  of  the  same  class.  In  the  public 
place  of  worship  none  will  be  shut  out.  But 
now,  dear  sister,  don't  feel  as  though  you  had 
nothing  more  to  do,  but,  I  beseech  you,  plead 
most  fervently  that  the  blessing  of  the  God  of 
Israel  may  descend  upon  this  weak  and  feeble 
institution,  that  the  hearts  of  all  who  may  at- 


THE   PILGRIM   LOOKING  BACK  OVER  LIFE.    243 

tend  may  be  united  together  in  love,  and  that 
the  spirit  of  grace  may  enlighten  the  minds  of 
the  unregenerate,  and  stir  up  Christians  of  all 
denominations  to  more  active  zeal  and  engaged- 
ness  in  the  cause  of  their  Lord  and  Master; 
and  oh,  remember  your  unworthy  brother  and 
his  companion,  that  she  too  may  become  a  hum- 
ble follower  of  the  Lord  Jesus.  You  are  aware 
that  we  have  lived  together  over  fifty-one  years, 
and  yet  I  fear  she  is  a  stranger  to  true  relig- 
ion. In  the  course  of  nature,  it  can  not  be  that 
we  shall  much  longer  abide  together  in  this 
earthly  tent.  May  we  only  be  fitted  to  live  and 
reign  together  with  Christ  in  glory.  Separa- 
tion for  eternity  would  be  sad  indeed,  and  yet 
is  there  not  reason  to  fear  that  will  be,  unless 
we  both  have  the  uniting  bond  to  Christ  ?  For 
myself,  it  is  a  pleasant  thought  that  my  time 
here  can  be  but  short.  Life  I  am  not  weary 
of,  but  I  often  long  to  be  with  Jesus. 


1 1  BID  my  hoars  to  hasten  on, 
That  I  may  be  where  Christ  has  gone ; 
With  him  I  long  in  heaven  to  meet, 
To  pay  my  honors  at  his  feet 
Oh  thou  blesa'd  Savior !  thon  dost  see 
How  sad  my  heart,  when  far  from  thee ! 
Though  here  on  earth  thy  love  I  share, 
Yet  I  had  rather  see  thee  there. 


244        CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

Thou  said'st,  before  thy  feet  were  set 
Upon  their  march  from  Olivet, 
What  time  the  clouds  and  heavens  of  light 
Received  thee  from  the  gazer's  sight, 
That  thou  didst  go,  that  there  might  be 
A  place  prepared  for  us  and  Thee. 
Oh,  fit  me  for  that  dwelling-place, 
Where  I  shall  see  thee  face  to  face." 


THE   LOO    OF    LIFE    WRITTEN    UP. 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

CLOSING    YEARS,   DEATH,   AND    RETROSPECT   OP 
CHARACTER. 

JOT,  joy  to  the  soul  that  is  ripe  for  ascending 

If  hope  be  the  star  that  enlightens  death's  vale; 
For  why  should  we  keep  it  from  joys  never  ending, 

To  tenant  this  mansion  of  weeping  and  wail  f 
Its  stains,  wash'd  away  by  the  fall  crimson  gashes 

From  the  woanded  Redeemer,  no  longer  remain ; 
On  the  wings  of  an  angel  to  heaven  it  rashes, 

To  be  happy  forever,  and  ever  to  reign. 

The  Departing  Christian. 

PORT  is  almost  gained ;  the  voyage  of  life  is 
well-nigh  up ;  the  Christian  mariner's  Snug 
Harbor  is  nearly  entered;  eternal  glory  opens 
to  the  view ; 

Christian,  cast  anchor  now, 
Heaven  is  thy  home. 

We  have  followed  the  thread  of  this  autobiog- 
raphy till  it  is  all  but  spent,  carefully  unravel- 
ing and  winding  it  off  at  intervals,  and  weaving 
it  up  with  an  appropriate  woof  into  the  tissue 
of  this  book.  But  little  remains  to  complete 
our  fabric  and  lift  it  from  the  loom.  The  two 
last  years  of  Captain  Congar's  life,  although  he 
continued  in  active  business,  were,  on  the  whole, 


246  CAPTAIN    OBADIAH    CONGAR. 

composed  and  peaceful  above  any  that  had  gone 
before.  At  the  close  of  his  seventy-eighth  year 
we  find  him  making  this  cheerful  entry  in  his 
journal : 

"  I  record  this  day  that  the  same  Good  Hand 
which  has  taken  care  of  me  through  childhood, 
youth,  and  riper  age,  has  carried  me  deep  into 
the  vale  of  years,  even  to  the  closing  day  of  the 
seventy-eighth  year  of  my  life.  And  here  I 
would  express  my  gratitude  to  my  Almighty 
Preserver  and  Benefactor  that  I  have  wanted 
for  no  good  thing.  My  general  health  through 
the  year  has  been  better  than  for  some  years 
past,  and  no  evil  has  befallen  me  or  any  of  my 
family,  except  that  my  wife  has  lost  the  sight, 
in  a  great  degree,  of  her  right  eye.  We,  how- 
ever, have  abundant  reason  to  be  thankful,  none 
to  complain.  Why,  but  of  his  sovereign  grace, 
has  He  so  highly  favored  us  !" 

O,  to  grace  how  great  a  debtor, 

Daily  I'm  constrain'd  to  be ! 
Let  that  grace  now,  like  a  fetter, 

Bind  my  wandering  soul  to  thee. 

"  How  does  it  now  become  me  more  than 
ever  to  consecrate  all  my  faculties  and  days  that 
remain  to  my  God  and  Redeemer.  Oh,  how 
poor  a  return  for  all  his  goodness !  Had  I  a 
thousand  lives  to  live,  and  a  thousand  hearts  to 


THE   ONLY  PILOT  IN  THE  SOUL's   NAVIGATION.    247 

give,  they  should  be  all  devoted  to  him.     But 
'tis  only  this  one  poor  offering  I  can  now  make." 

Here,  Lord,  I  give  myself  away ! 
'Tis  all  that  I  can  do. 

"  June  27th,  1847.  To-day  begins  the  eight- 
ieth  year  of  my  earthly  pilgrimage.  How 
strange  that  I  should  have  navigated  so  long 
without  shipwreck  that  stormy  sea  of  life  on 
which  millions  of  barks,  freighted  with  immortal- 
ity, that  sailed  with  me,  have  long  since  found- 
ered !  When  I  ask,  why  is  it  so,  my  heart  re- 
plies, not  for  any  thing  in  me,  but  'Even  so, 
Father,  for  so  it  seemed  good  in  thy  sight.'  My 
Savior  has  been  at  the  helm." 

He  is  my  Pilot  wise ; 

My  compaM  if  his  word ; 
My  soul  all  storms  defies, 

While  I  have  such  a  Lord ! 
I  trust  his  faithfulness  and  power, 
To  save  me  in  the  trying  hour. 

"  Hitherto  the  Lord  hath  helped  me  ;  my 
shortcomings  and  his  long-suffering  have  gone 
together  until  now;  but  methinks  my  heart 
hopes  and  resolves  to  be  his  entirely  henceforth 
and  forever.  God  has  not  only  kept  the  taper 
of  my  life  burning  so  long,  but  he  has  spared 
my  family  to  me  another  year,  and  the  health 
of  us  all  has  been  far  better  than  we  could  have 


248  CAPTAIN    OBADIAH    CONGAK. 

expected.  My  life  in  the  retrospect  looks  black 
as  ever,  but  so  does  the  grace  of  Christ  look 
brighter  than  ever,  and  therefore  I  do  not  de- 
spair and  moan  as  I  once  did.  For  one  thought 
to  myself,  I  now,  like  holy  Baxter,  give  many 
thoughts  to  my  adorable  Savior,  for  in  him  is 
all  my  comfort  and  peace.  '  God  is  in  Christ 
reconciling  the  world  to  himself,  not  imputing 
their  trespasses  to  them?  and  here  is  encour- 
agement enough,  together  with  that  blessed 
word,  '  Him  that'  cometh  unto  me  I  will  in  no 
wise  cast  outj  for  trembling  sinners  like  me 
every  where  to  lay  hold  of.  But  ah !  the  un- 
belief that  hangs  so  heavy,  and  makes  us  slow 
of  heart  to  embrace  the  encouragements  held 
out  to  us  in  the  promises.  How  many  pious 
souls  go  mourning  without  cause  all  their  days, 
as  I  have  done  till  near  fourscore ;  not  so  much 
mourning  for  their  sins,  as  that  they  find  so 
little  comfort  in  religion,  when  they  are  all  the 
time  looking  into  themselves  for  grounds  of 
comfort  in  their  exercises  and  acts,  instead  of 
looking  aloft  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  only 
possible  ground  of  true  comfort  to  a  sin-sorrow- 
ing soul.  Oh  !  had  I  learned  this  secret  earlier 
of  looking  always  to  Jesus,  how  much  more  I 
should  have  enjoyed ;  how  much  happier  I  might 
have  been  as  a  Christian  all  my  days.  I  have 


THE    SECRET    OF    HOLINESS    LEARNED.       240 

found  it  to  be  only  union  with  Christ  by  faith, 
and  a  constant  recollection  of  him  as  a  present 
Savior,  that  can  keep  the  soul  happy  by  keep- 
ing it  from  sin." 

Oh,  sacre«l  onion  with  the  Perfect  Mind  .' 

Transcendent  bliss,  which  thou  alone  canst  give ! 

How  bless'd  are  they  this  pearl  of  price  who  find, 
And,  dead  to  earth,  have  learned  in  thee  to  live. 

Thus,  in  thine  arms  of  love,  oh  God,  I  lie, 

Now  and  forever  lost  to  all  bat  thee ; 
My  happy  soul,  since  it  hath  learn'd  to  die, 

Hath  found  new  life  in  thine  infinity. 

Ob,  go  and  learn  this  leason  of  the  Cross, 
And  tread  the  way  which  saints  and  prophets  trod, 

Who,  counting  life,  and  self,  and  all  things  lost, 
Have  found  in  inward  death  the  life  of  God. 

"  October  14,  1847.  The  return  of  this  day 
reminds  me  of  my  narrow  escape  from  drown- 
ing fifty  years  ago,  through  the  mercy  of  God, 
while  the  ship  I  was  attached  to  lay  at  Canton. 
How  vivid  is  the  remembrance  of  it,  although 
my  heart  is  not  so  deeply  affected  at  this  dis- 
tance by  calling  to  mind  the  goodness  of  my 
Almighty  Deliverer  in  this  instance  as  it  ought 
to  be.  Ease  did  soon  recant  vows  made  in 
pain,  but  it  was  not  forgotten,  nor  its  effect 
wholly  lost  as  a  part  of  my  heavenly  Father's 
discipline  to  bring  me  to  himself.  *  He  it  was 


250  CAPTAIN    OBADIAH    CONGAR. 

that  took  me  and  drew  me  out  of  many  waters, 
and  saved  me  for  his  mercy's  sake.' " 

'Tis  to  his  power  I  owe  my  breath, 
And  all  my  near  escapes  from  death. 

The  following  extracts  from  a  letter  dated  at 
Jacksonville,  November  25th,  1847,  furnish  the 
only  remaining  personal  and  domestic  items  to 
be  recorded  of  Captain  Congar's  residence  and 
employments  in  Florida : 

"  DEAR  AND  BELOVED  SISTER, — My  heart  has 
been  inditing  you  a  letter  for  some  weeks  past, 
and  I  must  begin  with  what  my  heart  is  full 
of,  the  goodness  of  God.  My  Mary  and  I,  Dar- 
by and  Joan  like,  are  sitting  together  in  our 
little  dining-room.  And,  first,  I  desire  to  be 
thankful  to  Almighty  God,  our  heavenly  Fa- 
ther, for  his  protecting  care  over  us,  and  the 
numerous  and  unmerited  favors  which  we  have, 
through  all  our  journeyings  by  sea  and  by  land, 
received  at  his  gracious  hand.  And  it  especial- 
ly becomes  us  on  this  day,  which  has  been  rec- 
ommended by  the  governor  of  this  state  to  be 
observed  by  all  its  citizens  as  a  day  of  public 
thanksgiving  for  all  the  mercies  which  a  gra- 
cious Providence  has  bestowed  on  us  as  a  young 
member  of  the  great  confederacy,  and  for  the 
blessings  heaped  upon  our  whole  land  as  a  peo- 


COMPORTS    OP    A    LIFE    IN    FLORIDA.         251 

pie — I  say,  then,  on  this  occasion,  we  are  called 
upon  to  record  on  our  hearts  the  goodness  of 
God  in  bringing  us  thus  far  on  the  journey  of 
life,  even  to  advanced  age,  and  still  rendering 
our  circumstances  in  life  far  more  comfortable 
than  with  millions  as  good  or  better  than  we. 
We  have  a  convenient  dwelling,  situated  about 
one  hundred  and  eighty  yards  from  the  River 
St.  John's,  with  the  beef  and  fish  market  in  full 
view  from  our  house,  and  the  same  distance 
from  it.  The  market-bell  is  always  rung  to 
notify  when  either  of  the  above  articles  are  for 
sale.  Our  market  has  generally  been  well  sup- 
plied with  both  these  necessaries  at  very  cheap 
prices.  We  get  the  best  cut  of  the  hind  quar- 
ter, whether  for  steaks  or  roasting,  at  six  and  a 
quarter  cents  per  pound,  and  we  can  rarely 
consume  six  and  a  quarter  cents'  worth  of  ex- 
cellent fish  for  dinner.  We  purchase  the  best 
kind  of  wood  at  two  dollars  and  fifty  cents  per 
cord,  delivered  at  our  yard.  Vegetables,  the 
growth  of  the  country,  are  scarce,  except  sweet 
potatoes,  now  thirty-seven  and  a  half  cents  per 
bushel.  Our  family  numbers  only  three,  viz., 
Mary,  myself,  and  our  domestic,  named  Lydia, 
now  about  fifty  years  of  age. 

"  Our  expenses  would  be  within  our  income, 
were  it  not  for  the  large  outlay  of  our  yearly 


252  CAPTAIN    OBADIAH    CONGAR. 

travel  North.  We  have  a  competence,  and  with 
that  are  content.  He,  I  know,  who  feeds  the 
young  ravens  when  they  cry,  will  supply  me 
and  mine  with  all  things  needful  as  long  as  we 
shall  want.  But,  if  it  would  not  be  inconsist- 
ent to  desire  more,  I  would  that  I  had  it,  in  or- 
der to  do  more  for  the  support  of  the  Gospel, 
and  the  religious  institutions  in  this  section  of 
our  country.  As  a  little  family,  we  get  along 
very  quietly  together.  We  seldom  exchange 
visits  except  with  a  few  particular  friends.  Our 
habits  have  become  quite  domestic.  This  is 
true  of  us  all ;  even  our  servant  seems  to  have 
taken  a  pattern  by  us  in  these  respects.  We 
perceive  a  great  alteration  in  her  habits  for  the 
better. 

"  I  will  now  turn  my  thoughts  a  little  on  the 
state  of  religion  in  this  community,  and  its  at- 
tending privileges.  I  believe  that  I  have  already 
apprised  you  that  the  Presbyterian  clergyman 
who  had  been  sent  here  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Georgia  left  us  twelve  months  ago  last  April, 
since  which  we  have  had  no  minister  of  our  own 
denomination  with  us  except  a  few  Sabbaths. 
The  Presbytery  of  Georgia  signified  to  us  more 
than  a  year  since  that  they  could  not  find  a 
man  to  send  us,  adding,  at  the  same  time,  that 
there  are  now  more  than  six  hundred  organized 


ITEMS    OF    CHURCH    HISTORY.  25& 

churches  nnder  the  care  of  the  Board  of  Mis- 
sions for  which  they  were  not  able  to  furnish 
pastors.  When  I  received  this  information,  I 
was  compelled  to  draw  the  conclusion  that  our 
case  was  hopeless.  The  discouraging  state- 
ments of  the  Presbytery  and  of  the  Board  of 
Missions  in  Philadelphia  led  us  to  the  determ- 
ination to  sell  the  Church  property  to  the  Meth- 
odist Society.  This  measure  I  now  fully  ap- 
prove, and  am  satisfied  that  the  result  has  been 
favorable  both  toward  uniting  Christians  of  dif- 
ferent denominations  in  their  feelings,  and  in 
their  efforts  to  promote  religion  among  us. 

The  state  of  things  in  these  respects  is  far  bet- 
ter than  it  has  been  at  any  time  since  I  became 
a  resident  here.  These  are  the  outward  advan- 
tages, then,  which  the  whole  community  have 
obtained  by  the  purchase  of  the  Baptist  church 
by  myself  and  two  other  Presbyterians,  which 
we  did  to  save  it  from  falling  into  the  hands  of 
worldly  men  to  speculate  upon,  or  use  for  sec- 
ular purposes.  And  then,  again,  for  want  of 
sufficient  aid  to  support  a  minister  and  to  keep 
the  building  from  decay,  we  were  obliged  to 
transfer  the  property  to  the  Methodist  people. 
All  this  has  been  (I  consider)  providential,  and 
was  well  done  on  our  part,  for  we  have  secured 
for  this  people  a  convenient  house  of  worship, 


254  CAPTAIN    OBADIAH    CONGAR. 

which  might  not  have  been  the  case  otherwise. 
It  is  true  I  was  necessarily  obliged  to  advance 
myself  more  than  two  hundred  dollars  toward 
the  purchase  of  the  building,  but  this  amount, 
together  with  what  I  collected  when  in  New 
York,  and  the  donations  so  liberally  and  timely 
forwarded  us  by  yourself  and  cousin,  have  put 
it  in  my  power  to  erect  a  convenient  and  suit- 
able building  for  the  purpose  of  holding  a  week- 
ly prayer-meeting  in,  where  we  unite  with  our 
brethren  of  other  denominations  for  worship. 
I  contemplate  making  a  deed  of  this  property 
to  the  Churches.  I  am  further  happy  to  say 
that  the  Methodist  minister  who  labors  among 
us  has  done  much  to  raise  the  standard  of  re- 
ligion and  Christian  fellowship,  and  has  been 
the  means  of  calling  out  many  to  attend  relig- 
ious services  who  heretofore  have  stood  aloof 
from  the  house  of  worship.  The  seats  being 
free,  the  rich  and  poor  meet  together.  With 
respect  to  my  own  religious  feelings,  exercises, 
hopes,  and  expectations,  I  would  only  remark 
that,  on  the  whole,  I  trust  I  possess  a  more 
abiding  sense  of  my  unworthiness  and  insuffi- 
ciency, and  that  I  wait  with  a  comfortable  as- 
surance of  eternal  life,  only  through  the  unmer- 
ited mercy  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus,  the  great 
Redeemer. 


VIEWS    Ot    PASSING    EVENTS.  255 

"  A  few  thoughts  concerning  the  present  ca- 
lamity with  which  as  a  nation  we  are  sorely  chas- 
tised— I  mean,  the  war  now  going  on  between 
our  government  and  the  republic  of  Mexico.  I 
profess  not  to  be  a  prophet ;  yet  I  did  firmly 
believe  that,  should  Texas  be  annexed  to  the 
United  States,  it  would  certainly  result  in  a 
war  with  Mexico.  I  mentioned  this  my  full 
persuasion  to  numbers  around  me ;  and,  besides, 
I  could  not  fall  in  with  the  policy  of  our  gov- 
ernment in  seeking  to  extend  our  territory  so 
far,  believing  that,  even  if  this  new  state  should 
be  added  by  mutual  agreement,  as  well  of  Mex- 
ico as  of  Texas,  that  even  then  we  should  only 
involve  ourselves  with  new  cares  and  difficul- 
ties, which  could  never  be  balanced  by  any  ad- 
vantages to  be  gained.  But  when  we  reflect 
upon  the  horrors  occasioned  by  this  impolitic 
step ;  when  we  reflect  upon  the  increase  of  vice 
and  immorality  which  prevails  when  men  are 
congregated  together  by  thousands,  destitute  of 
the  restraints  of  religion,  and  far  from  the  so- 
ciety of  the  good  and  virtuous,  what  can  we 
expect.  But  the  melancholy  loss  of  life  and  the 
sorrows  of  the  sick  and  wounded  make  up  a 
dreadful  tale  of  woe.  We  know,  to  be  sure, 
that  God  can  overrule  all  these  awful  events 
for  the  advancement  of  his  kingdom  in  this 


CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 


world ;  but  man  meaneth  not  so.  It  is  my 
consolation  that  God  reigns,  and  that  his  king- 
dom is  yet  visibly  coming  on  earth.  We  and 
our  nation  are  in  the  hands  of  the  All-mighty 
and  All-wise.  He  will  do  with  us  and  for  us 
that  which  is  best  and  for  his  own  glory.  To 
Him  be  endless  praises.  Amen." 

During  the  year  1848,  the  last  of  Captain 
Congar's  mortal  life,  there  are  but  two  scraps 
of  autobiographical  annals  which  reflect  any 
light  upon  his  experience  and  habits  as  a  man 
of  God.  The  first  is  at  the  opening  of  the  year ; 
the  second,  as  usual,  on  the  anniversary  of  his 
birth. 

"  January  2d,  1848.  Not  one  day  have  I  seen 
from  my  earliest  recollection  but  what  I  have 
been  called  upon  to  acknowledge  the  good  hand 
of  my  God.  But  especially  at  the  commence- 
ment of  a  new  year  is  it  both  a  duty  and  a  joy 
to  raise  a  pillar  of  gratitude  to  the  Lord's  good- 
ness. On  this  occasion  I  would  notice  with 
thankfulness  the  kindness  of  my  heavenly  Fa- 
ther in  bringing  me  low  and  then  raising  me 
up.  The  Psalmist  says,  '  I  was  brought  low, 
and  He  helped  me ;'  and  my  experience  has 
been  his  over  again.  In  the  month  of  July  I 
had  a  severe  return  of  dyspepsy ;  but  my  af- 
fliction was  short;  I  was  soon  restored,  and 


HOW    TO    BE    YOUNG    WHEN    OLD.  257 

have  been  favored  with  better  health  than  I  had 
known  for  some  time  ;  and  I  have  found  by  ex- 
perience that  strict  temperance  in  eating,  as 
well  as  drinking,  is  essential  to  good  health.  I 
am  therefore  resolved  more  than  ever  to  attend 
to  this  lesson,  since  the  doing  of  all  in  my  pow- 
er for  the  maintenance  of  body  and  mind  in 
vigor  while  I  remain  below  is  a  doty  I  owe 
both  to  God  and  to  my  fellow-men." 

Master,  I  own  thy  lawful  claim, 
Thine,  wholly  thine,  I  long  to  be ! 

Thou  seeat  at  last  I  willing  am, 

Where'er  thou  goest,  to  follow  thee : 

Myself  in  all  things  to  deny; 

Thine,  only  thine,  to  live  and  die. 

Whate'er  my  sinful  flesh  requires, 

For  thee  I  cheerfully  forego ; 
My  covetous  and  vain  desires, 

My  hopes  of  happiness  below ; 
My  senses'  and  my  passions'  food, 
And.  all  my  thirst  for  creature  good. 

Pleasure,  and  wealth,  and  praise  no  more 

Shall  lead  my  captive  soul  astray ; 
My  fond  pursuits  I  all  give  o'er, 

Thee,  only  thee,  resolv'd  t'  obey : 
My  own  in  all  things  to  resign, 
And  know  no  other  will  but  thine. 

"  It  is  easy,  comparatively,  for  an  old  man 
like  me  to  adopt  this.     Oh,  that  I  had  been  all 
this  from  my  earliest  days!     What  but  grace 
R 


258  CAPTAIN    OBADIAH    CONGAR. 

did  keep  me  from  ruin  by  my  sins  in  early  life! 
I  am  a  wonder  to  myself,  my  lamp  of  life  hold- 
ing out  so  long.  I  stand  a  monument  of  the 
Divine  mercy ;  and  I  would  have  my  epitaph, 

A    SINNER    SAVED    BY    GRACE. 

"  June  29th,  1848.  Day  before  yesterday 
was  the  birth-day  of  my  eighty-first  year.  I 
try  in  vain  to  realize  that  I  have  lived  so  long, 
that  I  have  been  so  many  years  a  fixture  in  this 
changing  world,  outliving  almost  all  that  began 
with  me  the  race  of  life.  I  often  wonder  why 
it  is  that  the  most  unworthy  of  my  father's 
house  should  be  spared  the  longest.  All  my 
brothers,  one  of  them  younger  than  I,  have 
years  ago  gone  down  to  the  tomb,  while  I  still 
enjoy  a  good  degree  of  health,  though  subject 
to  the  infirmities  of  age,  and  at  times  feeling 
great  weakness  of  body,  especially  in  my  knees. 
But  I  have  every  thing  to  be  grateful  for,  both 
as  regards  my  spiritual  and  my  temporal  con- 
dition. In  general,  I  have  been  favored  of  late 
years  with  a  comfortable  hope,  which  I  trust  is 
spiritual,  that,  whenever  it  shall  please  God  to 
call  me  away  from  this  sublunary  scene,  I  shall 
be  permitted  to  meet  again  with  many  dear 
friends  who  have  gone  to  heaven  before  me,  and, 
above  all,  to  see  His  face  who  died  for  the  sins 


CALM  OUTLOOK  UPON  THE  FUTURE.   259 

of  many,  and  now  reigns  in  glory.  Till  I  get 
to  the  mansion  which  He  has  prepared  for  all 
those  who  love  Him,  may  I,  by  walking  daily 
with  God  as  Enoch  did,  recommend  my  relig- 
ion to  all  with  whom  I  have  to  do,  and  be  ena- 
bled to  bear  up  under  all  the  troubles  of  this 
mortal  life  with  a  holy  confidence  in  the  truth 
and  faithfulness  of  my  covenant  God  and  Fa- 
ther, through  the  intercession  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ.  Amen  and  Amen." 

Heav'n  is  my  bouse  and  portion  fair ; 
My  treasure  and  my  heart  are  there. 

And  my  abiding  home : 
For  me  my  elder  brethren  stay, 
And  angeU  beckon  me  away, 

And  Jesus  bids  me  come. 

I  go,  thy  sen-ant,  Lord,  replies; 
I  go  to  meet  thee  in  the  skies, 

And  claim  my  heavenly  rest : 
Now  let  the  pilgrim's  journey  end ; 
Now,  O  my  Savior,  Brother,  Friend, 

Receive  me  to  thy  breast ! 

The  personal  memorials  of  our  pilgrim-mar- 
iner are  now  ended,  and  it  remains  only  briefly 
to  record  the  manner  of  his  death,  and  to  present 
a  short  synopsis  of  his  character  and  virtues  as 
viewed  by  his  friends  and  gathered  from  the 
foregoing  annals.  The  same  summer  with  the 
last  date  above,  he  visited  the  North,  as  it  was 


260        CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

his  custom  to  do ;  and,  although  his  aspect  of 
health  and  activity  was  the  general  remark  of 
his  friends,  the  impression  was  fixed  upon  his 
own  mind  that  this  visit  was  to  be  his  last. 
While  in  the  city  of  New  York,  he  was  seized 
suddenly  with  erysipelas,  on  Thursday,  Sep- 
tember 14th,  and  died  the  next  week  on  Friday. 
Almost  simultaneously  with  the  setting  in 
of  the  disease,  his  brain  was  so  affected  that  he 
was  thought  to  be  sensible  at  only  two  short 
intervals  of  time.  His  constitution  was  one  in 
which  the  sympathy  was  more  immediate  and 
apparent  than  in  the  majority  of  cases  between 
the  body  and  mind,  and  thence  probably  the  li- 
ability which  we  have  observed  to  great  depres- 
sion when  his  health  was  at  all  impaired  during 
his  lifetime.  In  his  sickness  he  appeared  not 
to  suffer  pain,  the  dread  of  which  was  one  of 
his  peculiarities  in  health.  His  final  exit  was 
easy,  and  he  passed  into  peace.  In  the  lines 
of  his  favorite,  Charles  Wesley, 

The  voyage  of  life  's  at  an  end, 

The  mortal  affliction  is  past, 
The  age  that  in  heaven  he'll  speud 

Forever  and  ever  shall  last. 

His  funeral  took  place  in  Newark,  New  Jersey, 
and  his  remains  were,  conveyed  to  the  first  Pres- 
byterian church  burying-ground  by  a  large  con- 


UKLINEATION    OF    CHARACTER.  261 

course  of  attached  friends  and  relatives,  there 

to  Wait  THE  RESURRECTION  OF  THE  JUST. 

Beet,  Christian,  rest !  thy  warfare  is  done, 

Thou  host  fought  the  good  fight,  and  the  victory  won. 

In  making  out  a  brief  synopsis  of  the  char- 
aoter  developed  in  the  foregoing  autobiography 
and  memorial*,  and  as  it  appeared  to  the  eyes 
of  friends,  we  are  reminded  of  the  remark  of 
Wordsworth,  that  the  character  of  a  deceased 
friend  or  beloved  kinsman  ought  not  to  be  seen 
otherwise  than  as  a  tree  through  a  tender  haze 
or  luminous  mist,  that  spiritualizes  and  beau- 
tifies it ;  that  takes  away,  indeed,  but  only  to 
the  end  that  the  parts  not  abstracted  may  ap- 
pear more  dignified  and  lovely,  may  impress 
and  affect  the  more. 

Let  us,  then,  concisely  sketch  that  character 
as  it  is  given  by  friends  that  knew  its  virtues, 
and  were  not  blind  to  its  faults.  1.  His  man- 
ners. He  was  polite  in  his  intercourse  with  all : 
his  words  and  ways  were  marked  by  a  gentle- 
manly civility  and  kindness.  He  was  obliging, 
affectionate,  social,  and  sympathizing  outward- 
ly, because  within  there  was  the  frank,  noble 
heart  of  a  true  Christian  sailor,  which  was  ever 
ready  to  recognize  a  brother  in  a  fellow-man. 
In  his  dress,  also,  and  personal  appearance  he 


202        CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

was  scrupulously  neat  and  decorous,  even  to 
ripe  fourscore. 

2.  Integrity  of  character  and  benevolence. 
Those  who  knew  him  little,  trusted  him,  and 
those  who  knew  him  best  were  never  disap- 
pointed or  deceived  in  this  sterling  virtue.  He 
had  that  conscientious  regard  for  his  word  and 
for  the  interests  of  others  that  always  belongs 
to  an  upright  mind,  and  that  carries  conviction 
of  it  to  others.  As  commander  of  a  ship,  and 
intrusted  by  his  employers  with  lives  and  prop- 
erty, he  secured  their  highest  confidence,  and 
was  no  less  beloved  and  trusted  by  his  men. 
Always  unassuming  and  unaspiring,  others 
thought  far  more  of  his  faithfulness  than  he  did 
of  himself. 

As  a  merchant,  his  honesty  far  surpassed  the 
standard  of  the  present  day.  Exact  in  busi- 
ness— fulfilling  all  engagements  and  promises — 
his  word  was  uniformly  regarded  as  truth.  It 
was  a  rule  with  him  never  to  purchase  an  arti- 
cle of  merchandise  that  he  knew  was  not  good, 
and  never  to  sell  an  article  for  what  he  knew 
it  was  not ;  and  he«ce  it  followed  that  the  poor 
man,  the  slave,  and  all  who  traded  with  him, 
held  him  in  so  high  esteem  and  affection.  The 
grand  principle  that  regulated  his  conduct  was 
of  divine  origin :  "  All  things  whatsoever  yo 


HIS    INTEGRITY    AND    BENEVOLENCE.         263 

would  that  men  should  do  to  you,  do  ye  even 
so  to  them."  A'  reasonable  profit  was  all  that 
he  would  have,  although  often  he  might  have 
had  more,  and  under  circumstances  in  which 
the  most  of  men  would  have  taken  more.  He 
has  therefore  left  behind  him  a  savor  of  honesty, 
integrity,  and  singleness  of  purpose  wherever 
he  went,  that  is  his  best  eulogium. 

This  implies,  also,  benevolence,  which  shone 
in  him  brightly  as  a  trait  of  character,  both  in 
large  matters  and  in  small,  making  him  kind 
to  the  poor  and  friendless,  and  generous,  up  to 
his  ability,  to  every  good  cause.  Although 
heavily  drawn  upon  at  home,  he  was  always 
giving  to  the  great  benevolent  objects  of  the 
day.  The  ground  for  a  session-house  at  Jack- 
sonville he  gave  outright,  and  erected  the  build- 
ing upon  it.  One  of  his  last  acts  before  he  left 
the  place  was  to  give  a  deed  to  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  conveying  all  his  interest  in  the  build- 
ing and  land.  Impressed  with  the  uncertainty 
of  life,  when  about  to  leave  for  his  last  visit  to 
the  North,  and  when  urged  by  friends  not  to 
trouble  himself  about  it,  he  refused  to  leave  till 
he  had  effected  the  conveyance.  He  was  a  lib- 
eral contributor  to  the  Seamen's  Friend  Society 
and  to  the  American  Board,  and  the  final  dispos- 
al of  his  property  by  will  is  to  those  societies. 


264  CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 


3.  His  Christian  principle  and  piety.    On  ship 
and  shore,  wherever  he  went,  on  deck  or  port, 
he  made  himself  known  as  a  Christian,  and  it 
was  seen  that  he  loved  and  was  not  ashamed 
of  THE  FRIEND  OF  SINNERS.     We  have  learned 
by  the  foregoing  memorials  how  he  made  it  a 
matter  of  conscience  neither  to  leave  port  nor 
to  make  sail  on  the  Sabbath.     He  was  deemed 
a  favorite  of  Providence,  and  his  scruples  never 
cost  him  a  berth,  or  even  at  all  endangered  his 
discharge,  for  it  used  to  be  said  among  owners 
that  a  special  superintending  Providence   al- 
ways took  care  of  him  and  his  ship. 

It  has  been  seen  that  his  piety  was  an  active 
and  working  piety,  and  how  carefully  he  looked 
after  the  religious  interests  of  his  men  at  sea, 
and  of  his  neighbors  on  the  land.  As  to  his 
own  personal  enjoyment  of  religion,  for  a  large 
part  of  his  life  he  was  what  is  called  a  doubting 
Christian,  owing  chiefly  to  constitutional  pecu- 
liarities. Like  truly  modest  persons  always, 
he  thought  less  favorably  of  his  own  piety  than 
others  did.  But  it  will  have  been  observed 
with  pleasure  by  the  sympathizing  reader  how 
it  assumed  a  more  cheerful  aspect,  and  a  tone 
of  greater  assurance,  as  his  pilgrimage  drew  to 
a  close. 

4.  His  end.     His   sun  grew  larger   at   its 


HIS    LIFE    A    PROPHECY    OF    HIS    END.       2G5 

setting,  and  his  evidences  and  hope  of  heaven 
became  brighter  as  his  shadow  fell  longer  on 
the  plain  of  life.  Friends  noted  the  change, 
and  admired  in  him  the  grace  of  the  Redeemer 
ripening  him  for  glory.  When  at  length  ho 
was  gathered,  it  was  as  a  shock  of  corn  fully 
ripe  in  its  season.  Grace  had  gone  so  far  in 
its  work  of  renovation  as  to  correct  natural  cor- 
ruptions, acidity,  and  bitterness, 

"  And  lay  the  pallia  of  peevish  nature  even ;" 

and,  though  neither  eminently  great,  or  wise 
or  lovely,  he  was,  notwithstanding,  greatly  be- 
loved  by  the  friends  who  knew  him,  and  they 
are  confident  he  has  entered  into  the  joy  of  the 
Lord.  "  A  man's  way  is  declarative  of  his  end." 
"  MARK  THE  PERFECT,  AND  DKHOLD  THE  UPRIGHT, 
FOR  THE  END  OF  THAT  MAN  IS  PEACE." 

May  the  earnest  minds  of  both  landsmen  and 
mariners,  who  shall  have  been  induced  to  follow 
us  through  these  simple  memorials,  be  emulous 
of  the  virtues  and  wary  of  the  faults  herein 
portrayed  ;  and  when  our  voyage  of  life  is  over, 
and  friends  lay  us  in  the  narrow  house  appoint- 
ed for  all  the  living,  may  it  bo  said  of  each 
friendly  reader  of  these  annals,  with  as  much 
confidence  as  it  could  be  spoken  of  their  sub- 
ject, 


266        CAPTAIN  OBADIAH  CONGAR. 

HE  has  gone  into  peace  ;  he  has  laid  him  down 
To  sleep  till  the  dawn  of  a  brighter  day : 

Aiid  he  shall  awake  on  that  holy  morn, 
When  sorrow  and  sighing  shall  flee  away. 


THE    END. 


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The  Spoon. 

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Edited  by  R.  H.  HORNB.     12mo,  Paper,  85  cents. 

Men,  Women,  and  Books. 

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Hannah  More's  complete  Works. 

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Mrs.  Sherwood's  Works. 

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pei  Volume.  Sold  separately  or  in  Sets. 

Geoi*  ;a  Scenes. 

V>     i  original  Illustrations.     limo,  Muslin,  90  cents 


6  Valuable  Standard  Works. 

Neele's  Literary  Remains. 

The  Literary  Remains  of  the  late  Henry  Neele.  8vo, 
Muslin,  Si  00. 

Louis  the  Fourteenth,  and  the  Court  of 

France  in  the  Seventeenth  Century.  By  Miss  PAR- 
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Pauld  ing's  Letters  from  the  South. 

2  vols.  12mo,  Muslin,  SI  25. 

Percy  Anecdotes. 

To  which  is  added,  a  Selection  of  American  Ane«- 
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Prescott's    Biographical    and    Critical 

Miscellanies.  Containing  Notices  of  Charles  Brock- 
den  Brown,  the  American  Novelist. — Asylum  for  the 
Blind — Irving's  Conquest  of  Granada. — Cervantes. 
— Sir  \Valter  Scott. — Chateaubriand's  English  Liter- 
ature.— Bancroft's  History  of  the  United  States. — 
Madame  Calderon's  Life  in  Mexico. — Moliere. — Ital- 
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The  Philosophy  of  Life,  and  Philosophy 

of  Language,  in  a  Course  of  Lectures.  By  FREDER 
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Sismondi's  Historical  View  of  the  Lit- 
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Hon.  J.  C.  Smith's  Correspondence  and 

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Mathews's  Miscellaneous  Writings: 

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Longfellow's  Poems. 

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Harper's  Illustrated  Shakespeare. 

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Shakespeare's   Dramatic   Works    and 

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LBR  SINOKB,  and  a  Life  of  the  Poet,  by  CHARLES  SYM 
MUN8,  D.D.  With  Engravings.  8vo,  Sheep  extra 

1  vol.,  92  50  ;  2  vols.,  82  75. 

Cowper's  Poetical  Works. 

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by  E.  Bookhout,  from  Drawings  by  John  Gilbert.  8 
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Milton's  Poetical  Works. 

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and  Writings,  by  JAMES  MONTGOMERY.  Illustrated  by 
120  Engravings,  from  Drawings  by  William  Harvey. 

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Thomson's  Seasons. 

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Cope,  Thomas  Creswick,  J.  C.  Horsley,  J.  P.  Knight, 
A.R.A.,  R.  Redgrave,  A.R.A ,  Frank  Stone,  C.  Ston- 
bouse,  Frederic  Tayler,  H.  J.  Townsend,  and  Thomas 
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ABBOTT'S  HI8TOR1B8 

IN    CODBSB    Or    PUBLICATION 

36q  Imrpr  onlt  SBnrtjjfrs, 

*»•  Each  Volume  of  this  Series  is  printed  and  bound 
uniform  with  the  other  Volumes,  and  is  adorned  with  a 
richly-illuminated  title-page  and  numerous  Engravings. 
12mo,  Muslin,  plain  edges,  60  cents  per  volume  ;  Muslin 
fill  edges,  75  cents  per  volume. 

JUnrtf  (fuiren  of  f  rots. 

This  hiiU-ry  n  given  here  minute  in  every  point  of  real  mt*re«t,  ana 
without  the  encumbrance  of  u*eleu  opinion*.  There  it  no  sentence 
thrown  away— no  time  lost  in  mere  ornament.  Perhap*  no  book  extant 
containing  §o  few  page*,  can  be  raid  to  convey  to  many  genuine  historic*! 
fact*.  There  u  here  no  attempt  to  glaze  orer  recorded  troth,  or  win  the 
reader  by  sophistry  to  opinion*  merely  thoM  of  the  author.  The  pure, 
aimple  history  of  Queen  Mary  >*  placed  before  the  reader,  and  each  one 
it  left  to  form  an  unbiased  opinion  from  event*  impartially  recorded  there 
On*  great  and  mo*t  valuable  feature  in  thi*  little  work  i*  a  map  of  Scot* 
land,  with  miny  engraving*  of  the  royal  cattle*  and  wild  scenes  connect- 
ed with  Mary'*  history.  There  i*  al*o  a  beautiful  portrait  of  the  Queen, 
•ad  a  richly  illuminated  title-page  *uch  a*  enly  the  Harper*  can  get  up 
-Rational  Mogariiu. 


Pall  of  in*tructive  and  hran-itirring  incident,  displayed  by  the  hanl 
of  a  maater.  We  doubt  whether  old  Queeb  Be**  ever  Iwfuro  had  *o  much 
(uctice  done  to  her  within  the  aame  compan.  Such  a  pen  a*  Jacoh  Ab- 
kott  w,:lc!i,  especially  in  thu  department  of  our  literal  ore,  hn*  no  right 
*»  lie  Mil)  —Albany  Krprttt 


2  AbbotPs  Historical  Series. 

Cjjarlts  tjie  jFirst. 

We  incline  to  think  that  there  never  was  before  so  much  said  abmi 
this  unfortunate  monarch  in  so  short  a  space  ;  so  much  to  the  purpos* 
with  so  much  impartiality  ;  and  in  such  a  style  as  just  suits  th»se  for 
whom  it  is  designed — the  "  two  millions"  of  young  persons  in  the  United 
States,  who  ought  to  be  supplied  with  such  works  as  these.  The  en- 
gravings represent  the  prominent  persons  and  places  of  the  history,  and 
are  well  executed.  The  portrait  of  John  Hampden  is  charming.  Tl  « 
antique  title-page  is  rich. — Southern  Christian  Advocate. 


tjje  Cnrtjjngmmti 


A  new  volume  of  the  series  projected  by  the  skillful  book-manufacturer, 
Mr.  Abbott,  who  displays  no  little  tact  in  engaging  the  attention  of  that 
marvellous  body  "the  reading  public"  in  old  scholastic  topics  hitherto 
almost  exclusively  the  property  of  the  learned.  The  latter,  with  their 
ingenious  implements  of  lexicons  and  scholia,  will  be  in  no  danger  of  be 
iug  superseded,  however,  while  the  least-furnished  reader  may  gain 
something  from  the  attractively-printed  and  easily-perused  volumes  01 
Mr.  Abbott.  The  story  of  Hannibal  is  well  adapted  for  popular  treatment, 
and  loses  nothing  for  this  purpose  in  the  present  explanatory  and  picti 
rial  version.  —  Literary  World. 


a  Itttnraette, 


In  a  style  copious  and  yet  forcible,  with  an  expression  singularly  clear 
and  happy,  and  in  language  exceedingly  chaste  and  at  times  very  beeu 
tiful,  he  has  given  us  a  plain,  unvarnished  narrative  of  facts,  as  he  him- 
self says,  unclogged  by  individual  reflections  which  would  "  only  encum- 
ber rather  than  enforce."  The  present  work  wants  none  of  the  interetit 
inseparably  connecting  itself  with  the  preceding  numbers  of  me  sarw. 
•cries,  but  is  characterized  throughout  by  the  same  peculiar  beauties 
riveting  tho  attention  and  deeply  engraving  on  the  mind  the  informatio- 
*ith  which  they  every  where  teem.  —  Evening  Mirror. 


Abbott's  Historical  Series. 


tjje 


The  hittTjr  of  AlexsaJer  the  Great,  u  penned  by  Jacob  Aubott,  will 
be  read  with  thrilling  interest.  It  U  profusely  embellished,  eontiining 
•ape  of  the  Expedition  of  Alexander,  of  Maeedon  and  Greece,  the  plain 
ef  Troy,  the  Gramcui,  and  the  plain  of  luui  ;  and  engravings  of  Alei 
ander  and  Bucephalus  ;  Paris  and  Helen  ;  the  bathing  in  the  river  Cyn 
da«  ;  the  siege  of  Tyre  ;  Alexander  at  the  siege  of  SUM  ;  and  the  pro 
posed  improvement  of  Mount  Alhus.  It  is  written  in  a  most  graphic  sad 
attractive  style.—  SfftUtor. 


A  valuable  engraving  of  Lely's  portrait  of  Cromwell  opens  the  book, 
and  there  are  several  illustrative  wood  engraving*  and  an  illuminated 
title-page.  This  is  a  comprehensive  and  simple  narration  of  the  main 
features  of  the  penod  daring  which  Chsrlee  the  Second  reigned,  and  it 
is  done  with  the  clear  scope  and  finely-written  style  which  would  be  ex- 
pected from  the  pen  «f  Jacob  Abbott— on*  of  the  most  able  and  useful 
Viterary  men,  as  he  ra  one  of  the  very  beat  teachers  ef  his  time.— Htmt 


Sulms  fear. 


The  author  teems  gifted  with  that  peculiar  faculty,  rneseeeid  by  ee 
few,  of  holding  communion  with  and  drawing  oat  ardent  Imagination  and 
budding  genius,  and  at  the  same  time  of  directing  both  into  the  great 
channel  of  truth.  The  labors  of  such  a  man  are  productive  of  incalca 
Imble  good,  and  deterve  the  highest  reward.— ftew  Hamptkirt  Pcrriel 


Hitjwrii  tlit  .first 

Mr.  Abbott's  entertaining  and  instructive  historical  works  are  ' 
tag  More  end  more  popular,  and  are  undoubtedly  among  the  beet  of  the 
•any  c»ie)dmeed  histories  ihmi  have  been  written.  For  young  people  we 
know  of  nothing  more  entertaining  or  better  calculated  to  excite  a  desire 
to  become  acquainted  with  the  leading  events  of  history.— Bmfflo  Cov 


Abbott's  Historical  Series. 


tjje  CjjirlL 


We  know  of  no  writer  in  this  country  whose  style  and  ability  bettei 
fit  him  for  such  a  service.  They  are  admirable  works  for  youth,  and 
make  a  valuable  fund  of  reading  for  the  fireside  and  for  schor.s.  —  .Yen 
York  Evangelist. 


-*- 


Mrefc  tfje  (great. 

History,  under  the  pen  of  Mr.  Abbott,  discloses  its  narratives  and  ut- 
ters its  lessons  in  a  style  of  great  simplicity  and  intelligence,  and,  above 
all,  with  no  danger  of  detriment  to  morals.  He  h,as  selected  his  field 
with  excellent  taste,  and  we  shall  be  glad  to  see  his  series  pursued  in 
definitely.  In  their  line,  these  volumes  have  never  been  surpassed.— 
liavttst  Recorder. 


Darin*,  Hittg  nf 


Mr.  Abbott's  design  to  write  a  succession  of  histories  for  the  young  ii 
admirable,  and  worthy  of  all  encouragement,  and  the  manner  in  which 
he  has  executed  his  work  thus  far  is  most  excellent.  Let  him  be  en- 
couraged to  proceed  till  he  has  reached  the  last  volume  of  history,  that 
the  coming  generation  may  turn  from  the  world  of  romance  to  that  of 
reality,  and  learn  that  what  is  and  has  been  is  as  brilliant  in  character, 
as  glorious  in  description,  and  as  captivating  in  detail,  as  that  which  th» 
Renius  of  fiction  ever  created.  —  Observer. 


Wiilim  tlje  Conqueror. 

These  historical  memoirs  by  Mr.  Abbott  are  marked  by  their  great 
impartiality,  condensation  of  facts  and  picturesqueness  of  style  ;  his 
practiced  and  elegant  pen  has,  in  Mary  Queen  of  Scott  and  Charles  the 
Fint,  invested  the  historic  page  with  the  brilliancy  and  fascination  ol 
fo:nnnc« . — Mirror 


AbbotCs  Historical  Series.  b 

Xxms  tjjt  (great. 

"The  (rand  sxcellerxe  of  the**  little  volumes  n,  that  tboM  point*  of 
history  which  involve  the  principles,  the  causes  of  human  action,  and 
which  too  often  receive  bat  little  attention  from  thoee  who  writ*  for 
youth,  are  brought  forward  into  their  proper  station  and  to  successfully 
treated,  that  the  weakest  capacities  may  become  interested  aad  stronger 
eaei  profited.  The  maps  and  enf  raring*,  of  which  there  are  many,  add 
much  to  their  ralue." 


KINGS  AND  QUEENS; 

Oi,  LIFE  IN  THE   PALACE  :   CONSISTING    or    HISTORICAL 

SKETCHES  or  JOSEPHINE  AND  MARIA  LOUISA,  Louis 

PHILIPPE,  FERDINAND  or  AUSTRIA,  NICHOLAS, 

ISABELLA  II.,  LEOPOLD.  AMD  VICTORIA. 

BY  JOHN  S.  C.  ABBOTT. 
With  nunurout  lUiutralioni.     12mo,  A/Win,  $1  00. 

These  sketches  of  the  most  distinguished  personage*  of  Europe  are 
drawn  by  a  master  hand,  and  with  the  hfe-lik*  distinctness  which  char- 
acterizes all  the  works  of  the  popular  author.  The  work  is  fall  of  ro- 
mantic interest,  while  at  the  same  time  it*  perusal  will  enable  the  reader 
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form  an  essential  part  of  its  shifting  pageantry. — l^adiet'  Wrtutk. 

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tune*. The  views  of  Mr.  Abbott  are  those  of  a  thoughtful,  conscientious, 
well-read  man  ;  and  are  far  more  trustworthy,  to  those  who  desire  to 
know  the  real  troth  of  history,  than  the  representations  of  many  histo- 
rians who  pas*  for  standard  authors.— 


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